The Red Sox will try to finish off their three-game set against the Angels on Wednesday night without Adley Rutschman in the starting lineup again, and this time Mickey Gasper is the one getting the nod behind the plate.
Rutschman is out for the second straight game at Fenway Park as Boston lines up against Los Angeles right-hander Ryan Johnson. The switch-hitting catcher has been managing a hyperextended right elbow since hurting it on a swing against the Miami Marlins on Aug. 24, and interim manager Chad Tracy already said the issue could need to be handled carefully for the rest of the season. Boston did not attach any new injury designation to Rutschman with Wednesday’s lineup release.
Gasper’s assignment is a little more than just filling in. He’s hitting second, right behind Roman Anthony, who is leading off as the designated hitter.
Wilyer Abreu bats third in right field, Trevor Story follows in the cleanup spot at shortstop, and Nick Sogard is at first base hitting fifth. Caleb Durbin starts at third, Jarren Duran is back in left field after sitting Tuesday, Isiah Kiner-Falefa handles second, and Nate Eaton takes center field with Ceddanne Rafaela on the injured list.
Here’s the full Boston lineup: Roman Anthony, DH
Mickey Gasper, C
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Trevor Story, SS
Nick Sogard, 1B
Caleb Durbin, 3B
Jarren Duran, LF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 2B
Nate Eaton, CF
Jake Bennett, LHP
Boston is also trying to shake off what happened Tuesday, when Reid Detmers took over the game for the Angels. Detmers allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings, struck out nine, and helped Los Angeles roll to a 6-1 win. That snapped the Red Sox’ five-game winning streak and left them at 80-66.
Jake Bennett gets the ball for Boston, and the 25-year-old comes in at 9-6 with a 3.34 ERA and 81 strikeouts. Johnson, the Angels’ starter, is 3-8 with a 5.17 ERA. Rutschman’s bat was a big part of Boston’s win Monday, when he crushed a three-run homer in the 5-2 victory - his fourth home run since joining the Red Sox.
Now Gasper gets the chance to help the Red Sox close the series on a better note.
In Other News...
Red Sox Prospect From That Grissom Deal Is Suddenly Worth Watching
The final week of the season brought a small but notable shuffle in the Red Sox system, with outfielder Isaiah Jackson moving up to Double-A Portland. Boston also promoted right-handers Griffin Kilander and Aaron Nixon to Portland, while utility player Tyler McDonough went back to Triple-A, a set of moves that gives the organization one more chance to take a look at a few players before the year closes.
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 Get Encouraging Rutschman News At A Crucial Time
Adley Rutschmans week off the field was not a surprise to the Red Sox, but it did underline how important his health remains as the stretch run tightens. After receiving a cortisone shot in his right elbow following Mondays game, Rutschman was held out of the lineup Tuesday and Wednesday as the club managed the recovery plan, a move that fit the broader concern around a player Boston brought in during August to deepen and stabilize the roster.
The encouraging part for Boston is the expectation that Rutschman should be back Friday when the Royals come in, giving the Red Sox a chance to get one of their biggest midseason additions back in action without a longer absence hanging over the club. He has already navigated multiple injuries this season, so even a brief setback carries some weight, and the timing makes his return especially relevant as Boston tries to keep its lineup intact for a crucial series. [Read more 🡒]