Willson Contreras (illness) remains out of lineup

Contreras is back at first base and hitting cleanup against rookie southpaw Gage Jump following a two-game absence due to illness. The 34-year-old veteran has put together a career-best season at the plate, hitting .288/.395/.540 with 23 home runs and 70 RBI across 430 plate appearances. He’s served as one of Boston’s primary catalysts during their remarkable midseason turnaround. They’ve won nine consecutive games and 27 of their last 30 overall to pull within five games of the AL East-leading Rays.

He left yesterday’s game early. We haven’t seen any team update on this so far, but Contreras can be considered day-to-day at this point with the illness.

Fantasy managers can go ahead and mark another square on their Willson Contreras early-exit bingo cards for the season. It’s a relief that he isn’t dealing with any additional physical issues after being replaced at first base in the fifth inning after going 1-for-1 with an RBI. He also drew a walk. The 34-year-old should be ready to return to Boston’s lineup once he’s feeling better. It’s entirely possible he’s ready to play in Thursday’s series finale at Fenway Park.

Contreras was pulled from Friday’s game after being hit in the back of the helmet by a pitch and was then held out of Saturday’s lineup as a precautionary measure. He’s right back in there at first base on Sunday night and will bat cleanup against Dodgers’ right-hander Emmet Sheehan.

Contreras left Friday’s game after being hit on the back of the helmet by a pitch, but he seems to have cleared concussion protocol, and it looks like he’ll miss just the one full contest.

The Red Sox have Nick Sogard playing first base against the Dodgers tonight.

Manager Chad Tracy indicated that he was encouraged by the initial tests, so Contreras hasn’t been ruled out for Saturday’s game just yet. If he can’t play, then it will lead to a start for either Nick Sogard or Romy Gonzalez.

Contreras remained in the game to run the bases for himself but was ultimately replaced when the Red Sox took the field in the home half of the inning. He’ll presumably have to pass through the concussion protocol before he’s cleared to return to action.

Contreras homered immediately after Wilyer Abreu tied the game with a solo shot off Luis Medina. It was his 23rd of the year, putting him one away from matching his career high from 2019. He’s tied for 13th in the majors in homers, tied for 15th with 67 RBI and is in fourth place with his .945 OPS.

It’s the worst-case scenario outcome for Mead after he was drilled by a pitch during the second at-bat of his Red Sox debut against the Athletics on Monday night. The 25-year-old infielder was acquired from the Nationals for lefty Connelly Early last week and is already facing an extended absence. There’s a strong possibility his season is over given the severity of the injury. Cassell adds that Nick Sogard is coming up from Triple-A Worcester to take Mead’s roster spot. It’ll be Caleb Durbin handling third base with Anthony Seigler moving back into a starting role at the keystone.