Willson Contreras in Game 1 lineup vs. Yankees

Contreras was one of the few bright spots as Boston’s ongoing offensive struggles carried into a middle innings of a win-or-go-home battle at Yankee Stadium. He managed to get Boston within a single run by taking Yankees starter Max Fried deep on a full-count offering with two outs in the sixth inning. He wound up reaching base safely in all four of his plate appearances as the Red Sox were sent home following back-to-back blowout losses in New York.

Tracy added that Anthony underwent an MRI that revealed new strains to different muscles in his right hand and wrist in addition to re-aggravating his previous finger-related issue. The 22-year-old made an early exit from Tuesday’s AL Wild Card Series opener and won’t be available for the Division Series, if Boston somehow manages to rally. The greater concern here is whether Anthony will require surgery, which would put his status for the outset of next season in serious jeopardy. It’s a disappointing development after Anthony missed most of the season with a finger injury. There should be additional clarity on his status in the coming days.

This always seemed likely after the 22-year-old reaggravated a hand injury on a check swing on Sunday and then further hurt it in Game 1 on Tuesday. Nate Eaton will start in left field and bat ninth against left-hander Max Fried, but now the bigger question will be whether or not the Red Sox request permission to replace Anthony on their roster for the postseason.

Anthony left Tuesday’s game in the 6th inning after he reaggravated a hand injury that cost him three months earlier this season. What’s more troubling is that Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported that the “issue predated the game” and that Andruw Monasterio “said he was notified prior to the game that he might have to replace Anthony due to the discomfort in his hand.” Red Sox manager Chad Tracy also said after the game that Anthony had been feeling some discomfort in the month since he returned from the injured list. All signs point to the 22-year-old no longer being an option for Boston this postseason. According to MLB rules, “A club may request permission from the Commissioner’s Office to replace a player who is injured during the course of a series, but that player is then ineligible for the rest of that round and the subsequent round.” The Red Sox may have to decide on that shortly.

That was the easy guess, unfortunately. Anthony, who missed much of the year after suffering a partial tendon tear in his right ring finger in May, might have originally aggravated things during Sunday’s game. It’s unclear if he’ll be an option Wednesday, but really, the bigger concern at this point might be 2027 and beyond.

Boston’s inability to score runs during the final month of the regular season carried over into the postseason as they were unable to manufacture anything against Yankees ace Cam Schlittler, who held them scoreless into the seventh inning, as they finished with just three hits in the entire contest.

It’s a bit unclear whether Anthony is actually injured, but he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning after striking out twice against Yankees ace Cam Schlittler to open the contest. It’s worth noting that he looked a bit uncomfortable on an awkward swing during Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Cubs at Tropicana Field. There should be an update on his status following the contest.

The big question is how Contreras is feeling from a physical standpoint leading into the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Tuesday. The 34-year-old veteran slugger returned to Boston’s lineup for their final regular-season contest at Tropicana Field following an eight-game absence due to a right hand injury after he was hit by a pitch earlier this month. He concludes the regular season as a top-15 range option at first base, hitting .275/.386/.516 with 68 runs scored, 27 homers, 81 RBI and three steals in 130 games.

We’ll find out later how Contreras felt on his swings. He was playing for the first time since getting hit on the hand by a pitch 10 days ago.

Contreras hasn’t played since September 17 when he was hit in the hand by a pitch. It’s encouraging that he’ll be able to get a couple of live at-bats in before the Red Sox open the postseason on Tuesday against the Yankees. He’ll serve as the team’s designated hitter and will bat third against Cubs’ left-hander Shota Imanaga.