The Red Sox shuffled their roster ahead of the season finale against the Cubs, and the biggest headline was a pair of injuries that will thin out the club’s depth heading into October.
Catcher Mickey Gasper was placed on the 10-day injured list with a biceps strain, while right-hander Tyron Guerrero landed on the 15-day IL with a shoulder strain. To fill those openings, Boston recalled utilityman Nate Eaton and righty Wyatt Olds.
Boston also activated Tanner Houck from the 60-day IL, bringing the right-hander back to the majors after Tommy John surgery last season. Houck will start Sunday in his return.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox moved outfielder Eli White to the 60-day IL; White had season-ending foot surgery earlier this month. Jedixson Paez was also optioned to clear space with the big-league club.
Gasper’s injury is the most immediate concern. He was pulled from the first game of Friday’s doubleheader after manager Chad Tracy described it as a “ significant ” biceps injury.
Now he’ll miss at least the first round of the playoffs and could be out for the entire postseason. Gasper had gone cold after a huge two-week burst to finish August, but he had been a regular against right-handers near the top of Boston’s lineup.
There was a small lift for the lineup Sunday, though. Willson Contreras is batting third as the designated hitter, marking his first game action since September 17. Contreras was hit on the hand by a pitch and was still dealing with pain this week, so simply seeing him back in the lineup is a strong sign for his playoff availability.
Guerrero’s injury hits Boston’s bullpen setup. The veteran righty struck out the side in his latest outing Wednesday against the Guardians and picked up his 19th hold.
He had become a trusted late-inning arm, working as a key setup piece behind Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman. A postseason return is still possible, but only if Boston advances multiple rounds.
Eaton has been a familiar shuttle piece this season, moving on and off the roster several times. He’s logged 58 plate appearances in those stints.
The 29-year-old has major league experience at third base, but this year he has only played the outfield for Boston. His glove has been a plus, with 4 Defensive Runs Saved in 125 innings.
Olds has been one of the more encouraging rookie arms on the staff. Through his first 15 big-league appearances, he has posted a 1.20 ERA.
The right-hander does walk too many batters, but his strikeout stuff has been loud, with a 31.3% strikeout rate. With Guerrero sidelined, Olds could be asked to handle some of the higher-leverage work.
Houck’s road back has been a rough one. Before the surgery, he struggled to an 8.04 ERA across nine outings, including two starts in which he gave up 11 earned runs.
He made four rehab appearances while building back up, reaching 42 pitches over 3 1/3 innings in his most recent outing. He’s unlikely to factor into the playoffs, but Boston could still have him available as either a starter or reliever in 2027.
Paez, meanwhile, was recalled for the doubleheader and delivered the best outing of his short major league career. He threw five shutout innings against the Cubs, working behind Brayan Bello and finishing off a 2-0 win for his first MLB victory.
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For Chicago, the focus is less on the matchup label than on the specific pitch shapes it will see and how quickly the lineup can sort them out. Kings sinker and change-up are the pitches that matter most here, and the Cubs best chance to take control of the series opener may come down to which hitters can stay disciplined enough to force him into the zone. If they can do that early, Game 1 starts to look very different. [Read more 🡒]
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The Cubs are expected to make a call soon on whether Gausman will even be on the Wild Card roster, much less available to start Game 1 or Game 2. If he cannot go, Chicago has alternatives to weigh, with Matthew Boyd among the leading possibilities and other arms such as Imanaga, Braxton Garrett, Clay Holmes and David Peterson all part of the discussion as the playoff picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Bregman Suddenly Looms Large In Cubs Wild Card Opener
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For Chicago, Alex Bregman is one of the names that can change that script. Fresh off a return from facial fractures, he brings both postseason experience and a strong track record against King, and he has been among the games best hitters since the All-Star break. In a matchup that already figures to be tight, Bregmans presence gives the Cubs a veteran bat with the kind of history that can tilt a big October night. [Read more 🡒]