Boston Red Sox News

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Tyler Samaniego • RP • Red Sox

Tyler Samaniego to Operate as Opener on Friday

Boston Red Sox reliever Tyler Samaniego will serve as the opener during Friday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Samaniego was recalled on Thursday, with Garrett Whitlock (knee) heading to the Injured List. Samaniego has been impressive with a 1.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, with 13 strikeouts across 18 appearances with the Red Sox this season. He won't be an ideal fantasy option with Brayan Bello expected to pitch the bulk of the innings. This recipe has worked well lately with Bello, so the Red Sox will continue using it. The right-hander could be a possible deep league option for Friday's game.

17 hours ago

Garrett Whitlock • RP • Red Sox

Red Sox Put Garrett Whitlock on Injured List With Knee Inflammation

The Boston Red Sox placed right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday (retroactive to May 25) with left-knee inflammation, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. In a corresponding move, the BoSox recalled left-hander Tyler Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester. Whitlock initially injured his left knee when he slipped on a wet mound in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. He has been unavailable the last few days as a result, and now he'll miss another two weeks at the very least. The 29-year-old late-inning setup man doesn't have much fantasy value without a clear path to saves in Boston, which is why he's rostered in fewer than 20% of Yahoo leagues. Still, he's a valuable bullpen piece for the Red Sox and has gone 3-1 this year with a 3.20 ERA (2.76 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only six walks in 19 2/3 relief innings pitched.

22 hours ago

Garrett Whitlock • RP • Red Sox

Garrett Whitlock Unavailable Due to Sore Knee

Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) is dealing with a sore left knee, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Whitlock slipped on the mound on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins in the bad weather. An MRI exam came back clean, and he won't go on the injured list for now, but the Red Sox are trying to stay away from him for a couple of days. The 29-year-old former 18th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2017 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham has registered a 3-1 record, 3.20 ERA (2.77 FIP), 1.12 WHIP, 25:6 K:BB, and nine holds in 19 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for Boston in 2026 in his sixth year with the organization as a setup man. Whitlock has only 10 saves in his career and none this year, making him only attractive in leagues that reward points for holds. He's currently rostered in only 19% of Yahoo leagues.

Yesterday

Trevor Story • SS • Red Sox

Is Trevor Story Worth Stashing Through an Extended Injury Absence?

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (hernia) is expected to miss six to 10 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia on May 22. The 33-year-old was off to a rough start to the 2026 season before hitting the injured list, hitting .206/.244/.303 with three home runs, 19 RBI, 16 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 176 plate appearances. However, Story is just one season removed from hitting 25 homers and stealing 31 bags across 157 games in 2025. His barrel rate dropped from 9.8% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026, which could be directly linked to the hernia issue. If health was the reason for his struggles in 2026, Story could be poised for a second-half surge upon his return to the Red Sox lineup. In leagues with deeper roster formats, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Story through his injury for his high-end power/speed upside.

2 days ago

Garrett Crochet • SP • Red Sox

Garrett Crochet Throws Successful Live Batting Practice Session on Tuesday

Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) faced live hitters for the first time on Tuesday during a live batting practice session since going on the 15-day injured list last month with left-shoulder inflammation, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Crochet threw an inning at Fenway Park and said that he will throw another live BP on Sunday. Compared to his prior bullpens, the talented southpaw said his session on Tuesday went much better. He said the fatigue that landed him on the shelf on April 29 is no longer a problem, and the issue of late has been getting his mechanics back to where they need to be. Interim manager Chad Tracy said Crochet's velocity was sitting in the mid-90s, and that "it was a good day for him." Crochet initially hoped to avoid a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Boston's starting rotation, but at this point, one will probably be required. It means that it might be another week or two before Crochet is back for fantasy managers. He finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025 and should not be available on the waiver wire in any fantasy leagues.

2 days ago

Roman Anthony • LF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony Takes 12-15 Dry Swings, Turning a Corner?

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) took 12 to 15 dry swings on Tuesday and felt much better, so the team is encouraged that he has turned a corner in his recovery, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Anthony will do the same thing on Wednesday and increase the volume on a daily basis. The 22-year-old remains on the 10-day injured list due to a sprained ligament on the base of his right finger, but now that he is taking swings, he could be on the verge of being cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. In a best-case scenario, though, Anthony probably isn't a realistic candidate to rejoin the major-league roster until mid-June. The former second-round pick and top outfield prospect is quickly developing a reputation for being injury-prone, but his high-end power/speed upside should keep him stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues despite his slow recovery. Before going on the IL, Anthony was hitting just .229 (25-for-109) with a homer, five RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Masataka Yoshida has benefited from extra playing time in Anthony's absence, but it hasn't really translated to fantasy relevance.

2 days ago

Payton Tolle • SP • Red Sox

Payton Tolle Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup Despite Tough Upcoming Matchup

Even though Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle is scheduled to face off against the first-place Atlanta Braves in his next outing this week, he has done enough to warrant waiver-wire consideration in fantasy leagues where he's still available. The 23-year-old southpaw picked up another quality start by allowing three earned runs in six innings while walking two and striking out nine for a no-decision in his last outing on May 22 against the Minnesota Twins. Tolle now has four quality starts in his six starts in 2026, posting a 2.45 ERA (2.84 FIP) and 0.82 WHIP with 39 strikeouts and only nine walks in 36 2/3 innings pitched. He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in an outing and is one of the more promising, young left-handed arms in all of baseball. Tolle made his big-league debut last year with the BoSox and wasn't quite as good, recording a 6.06 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with 19 K's and eight walks in 16 1/3 frames over seven appearances (three starts). Tolle is rostered in 62% of Yahoo leagues, and he'll have a nice test this week against Atlanta.

4 days ago

Connelly Early • SP • Red Sox

Connelly Early a Rising Young Arm to Target on the Waiver Wire

Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early struggled with his control earlier this year, but he has begun to turn it around in that department and remains one of the more intriguing young arms to roster in fantasy baseball leagues. The 24-year-old southpaw is currently 4-2 in his 10 starts in 2026 with a 3.33 ERA (4.73 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks in 54 innings in just his second year in the big leagues. Early picked up his fourth win of the season on May 20 against the Kansas City Royals on the road, allowing three earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking only one and striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. The former fifth-round pick in 2023 out of Virginia has looked much better since wallowing a season-high five earned runs in four innings against the Houston Astros on May 2. In three starts since then, he has allowed five earned runs on 15 hits (four homers) while walking two and fanning 19 in 18 1/3 frames. Home runs have been an issue, but fantasy managers should feel more comfortable scooping him up off the waiver wire if he continues to limit the walks. Early is rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues, and he has four quality starts in his last seven outings while giving up more than three earned runs in just one of his 10 starts in 2026.

4 days ago

Garrett Crochet • SP • Red Sox

Garrett Crochet Set to Throw Live BP on Tuesday

Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) will face live hitters on Tuesday, according to Red Sox manager Chad Tracy. It will be the first time Crochet will pitch live batting practice since landing on the injured list with left-shoulder inflammation. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday, and if all goes well on Tuesday, the southpaw could begin a rehab assignment shortly after. The 26-year-old has been on the injured list since April 25. Before going on the IL, he struggled to start the season, posting a 6.30 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 30 innings. Fantasy managers should continue to stash the Red Sox ace as he works his way back from the shoulder injury and could return to Boston's as well as fantasy managers' rotations soon.

6 days ago

Garrett Crochet • SP • Red Sox

Garrett Crochet to Throw a Live BP/Sim Game Next Week

Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said on Friday that left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) will throw a side session this weekend ahead of a live batting practice/simulated game early next week, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Crochet is currently on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation, and although he is making progress, his return to Boston's starting rotation isn't imminent. The talented southpaw has been out since April 25. Whether Crochet requires a minor-league rehab assignment will likely be dependent on how his throwing sessions this weekend and early next week go. Fantasy managers are going to need to be patient, as he is unlikely to be back in the big leagues until early June. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star was second in the American League Cy Young voting last year, but he has disappointed so far in 2026 with a 3-3 record, 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched across six starts. Crochet is rightfully rostered in 99% of Yahoo leagues.

6 days ago

Trevor Story • SS • Red Sox

Trevor Story has Hernia Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-10 Weeks

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (hernia) underwent surgery to fix a sports hernia, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Story said last week that surgery would require six to 10 weeks to recover. The Red Sox placed the veteran shortstop on the 10-day injured list last weekend. Boston has been mixing and matching at the 6 with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio with Story out, and that should now continue for the foreseeable future. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star is no stranger to long-term injuries, although he did manage to play in a career-high 157 games for the BoSox last year, slashing .263/.308/.433 with a .741 OPS, 25 home runs, 96 RBI, 31 stolen bases, and 91 runs scored in 654 plate appearances. It's looking like another lost season in 2026, however, and he was hitting just .206 (34-for-165) with three homers, 19 RBI, four steals, and 16 runs scored in 41 games before getting injured. With the news of his hernia surgery, it's hard to recommend holding Story in shallow-mixed fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.

7 days ago

Roman Anthony • LF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony Dealing With Sprained Ligament in his Finger

Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said on WEEI on Friday that outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) is dealing with a sprain in a ligament on the base of his right ring finger, according to Rob Bradford. The Red Sox placed Anthony on the 10-day injured list with what was previously being called a right-wrist spain, but the injury has now been clarified as a finger sprain. The 22-year-old former top outfield prospect resumed swinging a bat on Monday but felt more soreness, which prompted the Red Sox to shut him down from baseball activities for the time being. It's unclear exactly when Anthony will resume baseball activities or when he might be cleared to come off the IL, but fantasy managers should be ruling out a return before June. Despite his disappointing start to his first full year in the big leagues, Anthony should remain stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues. The left-handed-hitting Masataka Yoshida should continue to benefit from more playing time, but he's hitting just .258 (23-for-89) on the year with no home runs, six RBI, and eight runs scored in his 33 games played.

7 days ago

Aroldis Chapman • RP • Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman Continues Incredible Campaign, Worth Viewing as the RP1?

Boston Red Sox left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman has not looked his age (38) at all in 2026 in his second year with the team. The veteran southpaw threw a scoreless inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout to close out the Kansas City Royals in a 4-3 victory, and he now has 12 saves, a minuscule 0.51 ERA (1.86 FIP) and 0.85 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 2/3 innings of relief in his 17th year in the big leagues. Surprisingly, Chapman has been one of the best relievers in baseball so far through the quarter mark of the 2026 season, and he's currently on a scoreless streak of 13 2/3 innings, a span in which he has allowed six hits, walked six, struck out 20, and recorded 10 saves for the BoSox. He currently ranks fifth in the majors with his 12 saves, but how much longer can he continue to outduel Father Time? With an xwOBA in the 68th percentile and a hard-hit rate in the 10th percentile, regression will most certainly come for the Cuban hurler eventually. His expected ERA also sits at 3.09 despite being in the 96th percentile in strikeout rate. Chapman still has enough swing-and-miss stuff to be a strong closing option for fantasy managers, but he's also a clear sell-high candidate.

May 21

Garrett Crochet • SP • Red Sox

Garrett Crochet Throws Two-Inning Bullpen Session on Wednesday

Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw two innings during an up-and-down bullpen session on Wednesday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Crochet said he will throw a brief side session on either Friday or Saturday before throwing his first live batting practice session next week. The 26-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation on April 29. Crochet isn't very happy with where his mechanics are at right now and said he still has "a lot of boxes to check in terms of workload and time to really iron those things out." Facing live hitters next week will give him a better idea of where he's at in his progression. Crochet said he expects to need more than one live BP session before going on a minor-league rehab assignment, so the two-time All-Star isn't exactly close to rejoining the BoSox's starting rotation. The talented left-hander was second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025 in his first year in Boston, but he got off to a rough start in his first six starts this year with a 6.30 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Still, Crochet is a must-stash in all fantasy baseball leagues.

May 20

Ceddanne Rafaela • CF • Red Sox

Ceddanne Rafaela Returns Following Minor Hamstring Injury

Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) is back in center field and will bat out of the two-hole for Tuesday's game against the hosting Kansas City Royals and left-hander Bailey Falter, according to MLB.com. Rafaela was not in the starting nine for Monday's series opener against the Royals, but he entered as a defensive replacement, and now he's back in the starting lineup for Game 2 at Kauffman Stadium. Not only is the 25-year-old native of Cuacao one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, but he's also been one of Boston's best producers on offense, entering Tuesday's tilt with a .284/.354/.432 slash line with a .786 OPS, four home runs, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 45 games and 164 plate appearances. Rafaela has been even better in May, going 17-for-53 (.321) with three of his home runs, two doubles, nine RBI, three steals, and five runs scored in 16 games played. Get him back into your starting lineups in all traditional formats on Tuesday.

May 19

Roman Anthony • LF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony Sore After Swinging on Monday

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (wrist) is sore after taking some swings on Monday, so he will not swing again until after the off day on Thursday at least, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. It's bad news for the 22-year-old former top outfield prospect as he attempts to return from the 10-day injured list due to a wrist injury. He has been out since early May and currently has no timetable for a return to Boston's starting lineup. Anthony will most likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, too, so he probably is at least another week or two away from rejoining the big-league roster. The former second-rounder in 2022 teased his upside in a 71-game stint with the BoSox last year before ending the season on the IL, and now he's hurt again early in 2026. Despite hitting .229 (25-for-109) in his first 30 games this year with a homer, five RBI, and two steals, Anthony should be stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues for his high-end power/speed upside in Beantown. Until he's ready to return, Masataka Yoshida will continue to see regular at-bats against right-handed pitching. The Japanese native still has zero home runs in 77 at-bats, though, and offers a low fantasy ceiling.

May 18

Ceddanne Rafaela • CF • Red Sox

Ceddanne Rafaela Dealing With Hamstring Tightness

Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (hamstring) is dealing with some hamstring tightness, which is why he was not in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the Kansas City Royals, interim manager Chad Tracy told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. With Rafaela sitting out, Jarren Duran made the start in center field, with Masataka Yoshida manning left field for the BoSox. It's not a major injury for Rafaela, thankfully, and Tracy expects him to return to the lineup for Game 2 of the series on Tuesday. The 25-year-old has been one of the team's best hitters so far in 2026, batting .284 (42-for-148) with four home runs, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 44 games across 164 plate appearances. He's been even better in May, going 17-for-53 (.321) with a .390 on-base percentage, .528 slugging percentage, and .918 OPS. Rafaela is tied with the Rangers' Evan Carter for most defensive runs saved among American League center fielders, and he ranks in the 99th percentile in outs above average (six).

May 18

Roman Anthony • LF • Red Sox

Roman Anthony to Begin Swinging the Bat on Monday

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (wrist) is scheduled to begin swinging the bat by hitting flips on Monday, according to Jen McCaffrey. This is the first time that Anthony has swung the bat since landing on the 10-day Injured List earlier this month. The expectation is that he'll need to face live pitching before he's cleared to return to the Red Sox roster. The team should give a better timetable on his return as he makes progress. The hope is that Anthony can return before the end of May, but fantasy managers should check back later in the week for another update on his status.

May 17

Trevor Story • SS • Red Sox

Trevor Story Could Require Hernia Surgery

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (groin) is "seeking additional opinions about whether he needs surgery to fix his sports hernia," according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. If it's confirmed that he'll require hernia surgery, he'd likely miss six to 10 weeks. That's a crushing blow for the veteran infielder, who was placed on the injured list Saturday. He has now dealt with five major injured list stints since the Red Sox signed him back in 2022. Story was off to a pretty poor start at the plate this season, slashing just .206/.244/.303 with 47 wRC+ and a whopping 32.4% strikeout rate. Very few managers were relying on him in fantasy baseball, so his absence won't have enormous lineup impacts. In the meantime, we expect to see a mix of Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio at shortstop. Marcelo Mayer and Nick Sogard could also compete to play more games at short.

May 16

Connelly Early • SP • Red Sox

Connelly Early Re-Emerging as a Prime Waiver-Wire Target

Across 47 2/3 innings (nine starts) so far this season, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early has recorded a 3-2 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts. The 24-year-old has been particularly effective in his last two times out, allowing just two earned runs and one walk while striking out 14 across 12 innings of work against the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves. Early hasn't been quite as dominant as he was upon making his MLB debut in 2025, when he posted a 36.7% strikeout rate in a small sample size of 19 1/3 innings (four starts). Still, the young lefty appears to be settling in and finding his groove after working through some command issues early in the year. Early profiles as a worthy high-upside waiver-wire target for fantasy managers ahead of his next scheduled start in Kansas City against the Royals on Wednesday.

May 16

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