The Red Sox are getting closer to having their lineup back in one piece, and Wednesday brought a pair of encouraging updates.
Willson Contreras, who has been sidelined since Aug. 30 with a hamstring injury, is set to take the next step in his return. Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said Contreras will join Double-A Portland on Friday, with the expectation that he’ll get one or two rehab games before the big league club activates him. MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo first shared the update on X Wednesday afternoon ahead of Boston’s series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.
"Chad Tracy said Willson Contreras will join AA Portland for a rehab game Friday (and maybe another Saturday)," Cotillo wrote. "Garrett Crochet will throw another bullpen session - not a live BP - over the weekend, Tracy said.
Crochet bullpen will be Friday. Tyron Guerrero is slated to throw a live BP on Saturday if all continues to go well."
Contreras has been Boston’s most reliable bat all season, and the numbers back it up. He’s played in 125 games and is sitting on a 4.4 WAR, which already marks the best season of his career by that measure.
Before 2026, his career high was 4.2. He’s hitting .274/.384/.516 with a .900 OPS, along with 26 home runs and 79 RBIs.
The positive news didn’t stop there. Adley Rutschman, who has been dealing with a sore elbow while also showing signs of life at the plate, is expected back Friday as well.
He hasn’t played since Monday, when he launched a three-run homer against the Angels. Tracy said Wednesday that Rutschman received a Cortisone shot in his elbow, and Cotillo reported the Red Sox believe a few days off will allow it to settle.
"Adley Rutschman is out because he had a Cortisone shot in his elbow Monday. Red Sox believe three days off (Tue, Wed, Thu) can allow that to settle and he can play Friday. They think this may take care of the lingering hyperextension issue," Cotillo wrote.
Rutschman’s elbow has been a real source of concern among fans, especially after Tracy said earlier in September that the issue could affect him for the rest of the season. But after a recent power surge and now the Cortisone shot, the trend line is pointing the right way.
The Red Sox already look strong. With Contreras and Rutschman moving toward returns, they’re about to look even stronger.
In Other News...
Red Sox Prospect From That Grissom Deal Is Suddenly Worth Watching
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Jackson is the name that stands out for Red Sox followers, especially because he came over in the Vaughn Grissom trade and has started to build a case in High-A as a defense-first outfielder who can also drive the ball. For a player taken in the eighth round in 2025, the climb to Portland says plenty about how quickly his stock has risen, and it adds one more interesting layer to a deal Boston has been monitoring since the moment it was made. [Read more 🡒]
Viral Fenway Moment Added To A Frustrating Night For Red Sox Fans
Fenway Park had its share of distractions on a frustrating night for Boston, and one of them came from the stands. A fan was recorded sending a $50 payment through Cash App while the game was still going on, with another spectator capturing the moment on video, including the phone screen and the message exchange that led up to it.
It was the kind of off-field scene that can take on a life of its own online, especially when it comes during a game the home crowd would rather forget. The Red Sox went on to lose 6-1 to the Angels, a result that not only dimmed the mood at Fenway but also snapped Bostons five-game winning streak. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Bigger Lineup Concern In Angels Finale
Adley Rutschman is out of the Red Sox starting lineup for the second straight game because of a hyperextended right elbow, giving Boston another wrinkle to manage as it tries to bounce back from its previous loss in the series against the Angels. Mickey Gasper will handle catching duties and bat second, while Jake Bennett is set to start on the mound as the Red Sox look to steady themselves in the finale.
Rutschmans absence leaves Boston watching a key spot in the order and behind the plate a little longer than expected, and it comes at a moment when every lineup decision feels magnified. The Red Sox have enough to sort out after dropping the last game, and now they have to do it without one of the names they were counting on most. [Read more 🡒]