Optimism for Xander Bogaerts after hit by pitch

BOSTON -- Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts likely will not return to action as soon as Thursday, but a baseball source said there's nothing alarming at play, just soreness in his wrist.

Bogaerts and the Red Sox will know more come Thursday's series opener with the Yankees, but the feeling on Wednesday was that he may only need to miss a day or two after the injury scare.

Wednesday was an off day for the team, and soreness was certainly expected after a pitch off the wrist Tuesday night. A pitch to the same spot last year created lingering problems for Bogaerts, a situation he knows to avoid this time around with appropriate rest he did not get last year.