Boston Red Sox News

Boston Red Sox newly acquired infielder Curtis Mead (wrist) is being placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a fractured left wrist that he suffered when he was hit by a pitch in his debut with the team on Monday against the Athletics. It's unclear how long Mead will be sidelined, but he obviously won't be ready to return in 10 days, and he could struggle to return before the end of the 2026 regular season, depending on how his wrist heals. It's a really tough break for the 25-year-old Aussie and Boston, who just sent left-hander Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for Mead over the weekend in the midst of his breakout campaign. Mead has hit .253/.353/.498 with an .851 OPS, a career-high 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 88 games across 329 plate appearances in his fourth year in the majors. His previous career high for homers was three last season with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. Mead is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues after his unfortunate injury. Anthony Seigler figures to see most of the playing time in Beantown at the keystone moving forward, with Nick Sogard also being an option to pick up starts at the position.

New Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead (hand) was forced from Monday's game early against the Athletics after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the fourth inning, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Before being replaced by Anthony Seigler at second base, Mead went 0-for-1 at the plate with a strikeout and the hit-by-pitch. It's a bad start to Mead's tenure with the BoSox after being acquired from the Washington Nationals in a trade involving left-hander Connelly Early over the weekend. Mead will most likely be taken for X-rays, at which point we'll have a better idea whether he'll need to miss additional time. The 25-year-old Australian native came out of nowhere to hit a career-high 17 home runs while driving in 48 and stealing six bases in 87 games and 327 plate appearances in Washington before the Red Sox traded for him. Mead previously had career highs of just three homers and 19 RBI from last year with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox. He's rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues now and is slated to play regularly at second in Beantown, as long as he avoids a serious hand injury. Mead has added fantasy value thanks to first base, second base, and third base eligibility. UPDATE: Mead was diagnosed with a bruised left wrist.

Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said that recently acquired infielder Curtis Mead will play second base for Boston, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. The Red Sox acquired Mead from the Washington Nationals in exchange for starting pitcher Connelly Early (elbow) on Saturday night. While Mead mostly played the corner infield spots in Washington, he has experience at second base as well. With Mead at second base, Caleb Durbin will remain Boston's primary third baseman. Mead has been one of the more surprising breakout success stories of the 2026 season, hitting .254/.352/.500 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 327 plate appearances with the Nationals. With his ability to play multiple infield spots, Mead should see everyday playing time for the Red Sox the rest of the way.

The Washington Nationals have traded infielder Curtis Mead to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for left-handed pitcher Connelly Early. Mead has enjoyed a strong campaign in D.C. and is now set to play a key role as the Red Sox look to claim a Wild Card down the stretch run. Through 87 games with the Nationals in 2026, Mead has posted a strong .254/.352/.500 slash line with 17 doubles, 17 home runs and six stolen bases. His current production is expected to remain sustainable given his underlying marks. The 25-year-old has generated a .260 xBA with a borderline elite .358 xwOBA and a high .458 xSLG. Mead is expected to occupy the hot corner, which will move Caleb Durbin to the keystone. His power upside should provide him with prime RBI opportunities over the final months of the season as he joins one of the game's hottest lineups.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (groin, illness) will return to the mound for Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. There was some speculation that Suarez's start would be pushed back while he recovers from an illness. He was deemed healthy, so Suarez is back on the mound for the first time since early July. During the first half, Suarez posted a 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 97/26 K/BB ratio across 91.1 innings of work. He should be rostered and started in just about every fantasy format. The move to start Suarez on Sunday will push Payton Tolle back to Monday's game against the Athletics.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (illness, groin) is an option to take the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Suarez landed on the Injured List on July 9 due to a left groin strain. He has recovered from that, but has held out during their last series due to an illness. According to interim manager Chad Tracy, Suarez is eating less than usual, so the Red Sox want to make sure he's 100 percent healthy before sending him back out on the mound. If Suarez isn't able to pitch on Sunday, Payton Tolle would get the nod versus the Blue Jays. Fantasy managers should check back on Sunday for another update on this situation.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin has worked his way into mixed-league relevance with a useful blend of power and speed. He is batting .236/.299/.400 with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, 42 runs, and 11 stolen bases across 92 games. Durbin does not hit the ball especially hard, but his 13.6% strikeout rate helps him stay involved and keeps the floor from falling apart when the power cools. The 26-year-old has also settled into regular work at third base and carries second-base eligibility in Yahoo leagues, giving managers more ways to fit him into a lineup. His 84.9 mph average exit velocity, 29.2% hard-hit rate, and 2.7% barrel rate make another major power surge unlikely, so the appeal is the overall category mix rather than a breakout. Durbin remains available in 59% of Yahoo leagues and ranks 25th in RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings. He belongs in the 10-team mix.

Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that left-hander Ranger Suarez (groin, illness) isn't ready to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Game 2 of the team's doubleheader on Wednesday against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. However, it's more due to an illness than his groin injury. Suarez is nearing his return from a groin injury that initially landed him on the IL on July 9, and with a scheduled day off for the team coming on Friday, it's possible that he could be ready to return and start in Friday's series opener at Fenway Park against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. Rookie left-hander Eduardo Rivera will start Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader as the BoSox look for their 16th straight victory. Suarez has been a must-start fantasy pitcher in all leagues in 2026 in his first year in Beantown, as he has gone 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA (2.61 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 97 strikeouts (career-high 25.8% strikeout rate) and 26 walks in 91 1/3 innings across his 17 starts to earn his second All-Star nod in the last three years.

Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock worked a perfect eighth inning in Monday's 6-5 win over Baltimore, striking out one and earning his fifth victory. It was his 12th straight scoreless appearance. Whitlock has allowed four hits and no walks over 11 1/3 innings during that run, with 10 strikeouts. His season numbers are just as useful: a 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 39 strikeouts, and two saves across 36 innings. Aroldis Chapman remains Boston's closer and recorded his 22nd save Monday, so Whitlock is not an immediate ninth-inning play. He is still the direct backup and one of the better ratio relievers available. Whitlock is rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues. That makes him a strong add in deeper formats and leagues that count holds, where the clean innings, strikeouts, and occasional wins already carry value. Any additional saves would be a bonus.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder, lat) said on Tuesday that he and the training staff still don't have a timetable for when he will restart his throwing program, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Crochet was initially placed on the injured list on April 29 with inflammation in his left shoulder, but he felt lat tightness two days later while throwing a one-inning simulated game, and he hasn't thrown a baseball since. "Making a lot of progress in the strength department right now," Crochet said. When asked if there was a chance he might not pitch again this season, the ace said, "It's tough to say." He's now on the 60-day IL after originally hoping his IL stint would last the minimum 15 days. Crochet started throwing weighted plyo balls in mid-June but stopped near the start of July. His shoulder injury is the biggest issue, as he called his lat injury "super minor." In shallow-mixed fantasy leagues, we wouldn't blame any managers for cutting the 27-year-old southpaw, as at this point, it's looking more likely that he won't return until September, if at all. Currently, he's still rostered in 94% of Yahoo leagues.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez (groin) will not return to start against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Instead, rookie left-hander Eduardo Rivera will get the nod for just his fourth big-league appearance and third start. Suarez was expected to come off the 15-day injured list to start on Tuesday, but with rain potentially in the forecast, the BoSox could be holding off as a precaution. If Suarez didn't suffer a setback with a groin strain that has kept him out for the last two weeks, he could make his return on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Venezuelan hurler is having a fine first season in Beantown, going 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA (2.61 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 97 strikeouts and 26 walks in 91 1/3 innings across his 17 starts, which was good enough to earn him his second All-Star nod in the last three seasons. Before landing on the IL, Suarez allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last six starts. UPDATE: The Red Sox want to give Suarez at least one more day after he pushed himself pretty hard over the last few days, per MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (groin) will return from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday to face the Baltimore Orioles, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The 30-year-old was placed on the IL in early July due to a left groin strain, but the injury appears to have been a minor one. Across 91 1/3 innings (17 starts) this season, Suarez has recorded a 4-3 record with a 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts. In his first season in Boston, the veteran left-hander owns a career-best 25.8% strikeout rate. Now that he's back in the Red Sox rotation, Suarez profiles as a must-start fantasy pitcher.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu has had one heck of a start to the second half of the 2026 season. For the second straight game on Saturday in a 7-6 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, Abreu had two home runs, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and a walk to boost his season average to .266 and his OPS to an even .800. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting Venezuelan outfielder is now slashing .266/.338/.462 on the year with 15 home runs, 49 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 95 games across 413 plate appearances in his fourth year in the majors. He's on pace to easily shatter his previous career highs in basically every category in the second half after he hit 22 homers and drove in 69 in 115 games for the BoSox a year ago. So far in 13 games and 60 plate appearances in July, Abreu is hitting .260 (13-for-50) with a 1.007 OPS, five long balls, four doubles, 10 RBI, and 11 runs scored. If he's somehow available in your league -- he's rostered in 81% of Yahoo leagues -- he's an immediate pickup.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin has not done much for batting average, but the category mix still plays. He is hitting .228 with nine home runs, 38 runs, 39 RBI, and 10 steals across 285 at-bats. Durbin also came out of the break with five hits in the July 17 doubleheader against Tampa Bay, three in the opener and two in the nightcap. The contact helps keep the floor from falling out. Durbin has struck out just 44 times in 317 plate appearances, plays regularly at third, and carries second-base eligibility in Yahoo leagues. He is not a must-add in every format, but there is enough here for managers who need a little speed without punting power. Durbin is currently on 37% of Yahoo rosters and belongs in the 10-team mix.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Bennett picked up his fifth win of the season in his first start after the All-Star break on Friday, allowing just one hit across six scoreless innings in his team's 10-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Since making his MLB debut on May 1, Bennett has recorded a 5-3 record with a 2.35 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts across 53 2/3 innings (nine starts). The 25-year-old left-hander does not have overwhelming strikeout stuff, as he's averaging 93.0 miles per hour on his fastball and has logged just an 18.7% strikeout rate. However, his command has been elite. Bennett posted a 5.7% walk rate across 39 1/3 innings at Triple-A before his promotion, and he's allowed a 4.4% walk rate in the big leagues so far. Bennett has also been hard to square up, surrendering a 5.8% barrel rate and just three total home runs. Fantasy managers should not expect a ton of strikeout upside, but Bennett remains an emerging young pitcher to target on the waiver wire.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu closed out the team's doubleheader sweep of the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Friday with a big performance in Game 2, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and three RBI in the 5-3 victory to boost his season average to .263 and his OPS to .777. Abreu went 1-for-4 with a walk in the 10-0 shutout win in Game 1 of the twin bill. It was the 27-year-old left-handed-hitting Venezuelan outfielder's first multi-homer game of the 2026 season, and his first since July of last year versus the Chicago Cubs. It was nice to see from him to start the second half of the year after he went 8-for-39 (.205) with a homer, four doubles, four RBI, seven runs scored, six walks, and 13 strikeouts in his first 10 games in the month of July. Abreu now sits on 13 homers, 46 RBI, and six stolen bases with a .777 OPS in 409 plate appearances on the 2026 campaign. He'll look to stay hot at the plate to begin the second half in Game 3 of the series on Saturday in Beantown.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Connell Early (elbow) is making progress with his throwing program, interim manager Chad Tracy told Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. "Connelly threw at the tail end of the break, which is good. He's gonna throw 75 feet today, 90 feet tomorrow. We'll just keep, as he increases distance, read and react to how he's feeling. That's a good sign." Early is on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left elbow, but it sounds as though he might be able to rejoin Boston's starting rotation in the second half sooner rather than later. It's unclear yet if he'll need a minor-league rehab start first, but even if he does, Early could be back in action in the big leagues before the calendar flips to August. Despite his injury, the 24-year-old southpaw is one of the more intriguing young long-term pitchers to follow in fantasy. Before going on the IL, he was 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA (4.60 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 34 walks in 91 2/3 innings over his 17 starts in his first full year in Boston. Don't lose sight of him as a potential waiver addition when he nears his return. Early is rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues right now.

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Eduardo Rivera will get the starting nod for Game 2 of the team's doubleheader on Friday at Fenway Park against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, interim manager Chad Tracy told Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. It will be Rivera's third major-league outing and his second start. The 23-year-old Cuban southpaw has thrown seven shutout innings so far in his two big-league outings with two walks and six strikeouts. In his first MLB start against the New York Mets on July 7, Rivera held them scoreless in 3 2/3 frames with two walks and three K's. Rivera is a pitching prospect to keep an eye on in dynasty/keeper leagues as Boston's No. 25 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, but he won't be a recommended streamer against the first-place Rays with a likely short leash in the second game of the twin bill. Rivera has mostly operated as a multi-inning reliever rather than a full-time starter in 2026. In his 20 outings (two starts) at Triple-A Worcester earlier this year, Rivera had a 6-2 record, 2.84 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 46:21 K:BB in 38 innings pitched.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez (groin) is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, but it's to be determined if the Red Sox will activate him then or give him a couple of extra days, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. If Suarez returns on the first day he's eligible, he'll be lined up to face the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. The veteran southpaw is recovering from a minor strained left groin that caused him to miss Tuesday's All-Star Game. It sounds as though he won't need a minor-league rehab start before rejoining Boston's starting rotation, which is good news for his fantasy managers. The 30-year-old Venezuelan hurler was named as an All-Star in 2026 for just the second time of his career after going 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA (2.61 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 97 strikeouts and 26 walks in 91 1/3 innings across 17 starts in his first year in Beantown. Suarez's strong first half was backed by a career-high 25.8% strikeout rate. He'll be riskier in his first start back next week, and he could be on a bit of a pitch count, making him a DFS fade.

Boston Red Sox second baseman/outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela earned his way to the All-Star game with a .281 batting average, eight homers, 12 stolen bases, and a .333 wOBA to go with his excellent defense. The 25-year-old has been much more selective this season and has hit .289 with six of those stolen bases over his 35 games since June 1. His contact metrics haven't been great over that span, but he has done a good job of piling up run production from the second spot in the lineup as Boston's batting order has come to life over the last few weeks. Rafaela is a solid source of speed and some potential power. He's been a streaky contributor throughout his time in the majors and has the potential to get hot in the second half and continue his emergence as a strong and versatile option on your fantasy roster.