Red Sox drop Roman Anthony (hand) from roster

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.

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.

Contreras is at first base and hitting third as Boston kicks off postseason play after missing eight of their final nine regular-season contests with a right hand injury. Here’s the full lineup set to battle Yankees ace Cam Schlittler: Roman Anthony (DH), Adley Rutschman (C), Contreras (1B), Wilyer Abreu (RF), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Nick Sogard (2B), Jarren Duran (LF), Trevor Story (SS) and Caleb Durbin (3B).

The win ensures that the Red Sox will get the fifth seed and face the Yankees in the Bronx in the Wild Card. It’s Anthony’s second time doubling twice and first time collecting three extra-base hits in a major league game. He’d struggled a bit the last two weeks, but he’s hit a fine .265/.321/.490 in 23 games since coming off the injured list at the end of last month.

There is a severe storm coming into the Northeast this weekend, but both the Cubs and Red Sox will likely need these final games for playoff seeding. The current plan is to play two games on Friday and then perhaps move Saturday’s game up to an early game before the weather gets really bad. If that schedule bears out, it would obviously impact the pitching matchups and would likely lead to many hitters sitting out at least one game with three games being played in such close succession. It’s a situation to monitor.

Anthony served as Boston’s primary offensive catalyst in a much-needed win at Tropicana Field by crushing a 438-foot homer off Rays starter Ian Seymour in the opening frame. He also supplied a two-run single in the ensuing frame to drive in three runs for the first time this season. The 22-year-old will head into the postseason as the Red Sox’ top-of-the-order table-setter and is probably going to have to be a difference-maker if they’re going to make a deep playoff push.

Anthony took Angels starter Ryan Johnson deep in the fifth inning for his third round-tripper in 11 games since returning from the injured list on August 30. He struck out in three of his other four plate appearances. He’s provided some stability atop Boston’s lineup and should give them a quality top-of-the-order table-setter for the postseason.

That makes four consecutive multi-hit games since Anthony returned from the injured list on Sunday. His homer against Seattle was his first since coming back and his second for the year. Anthony is now 9-for-18 with four extra-base hits in that span. He’s hit leadoff in each of those games, a role he’ll likely carry through the rest of the season.