Willson Contreras Faces Injury Concern Ahead of Wild-card Clash
WHO:
MLB.com - Braiden Ward is a 27-year-old prospect for the Boston Red Sox.
MLB.com - Joc Pederson is a player for the Texas Rangers who is dealing with a left hand fracture.
MLB.com - Aroldis Chapman is dealing with lat tightness and will not pitch this weekend but expects to return during the final homestand starting on Tuesday.
MLB.com - Ceddanne Rafaela has not played since September 2 due to a right quad strain, and it is unlikely he will play in a rehab game for Triple-A Worcester as the season ends soon.
NY Post - Willson Contreras is a player for the Boston Red Sox.
Boston.com - Chad Tracy is associated with the Red Sox and provided a statement regarding Contreras' injury.
WHAT:
MLB.com - Ward recorded a five-hit game, scoring five runs and driving in three RBIs during a 16-1 victory for Triple-A Worcester.
MLB.com - Ward hit his sixth home run of the season in the fifth inning of the game against Durham.
MLB.com - Ward has stolen 61 bases this season, succeeding on 87.5 percent of his career attempts in the Minors.
MLB.com - Pederson has not appeared in a game since being hit by a pitch, and he is currently using a lighter bat weighing 12 ounces to aid in his recovery.
MLB.com - Pederson stated, “I tried [to hold a bat] yesterday, and I couldn't do it. I've been doing a hyperbaric chamber and some other things that are hopefully speeding up the recovery. And today I was able to do it.”
MLB.com - Willson Contreras said that when he was hit, it felt like a fracture, but X-rays were negative. He is currently day to day with soreness and swelling.
MLB.com - Roman Anthony recorded a two-run single and a Statcast-projected 438-foot home run in a game against the Rays, contributing to a 4-2 victory.
NY Post - Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch from Jakob Junis during a game against the Texas Rangers.
Boston.com - Contreras sustained a bruised right hand as a result of being hit by the pitch.
WHERE:
NY Post - The incident occurred during a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers.
WHEN:
MLB.com - The Red Sox are expected to finalize their playoff roster before Game 1 of the Wild Card series on September 29.
MLB.com - Pederson hopes to return to the Rangers' lineup in the final 10 days of the season.
MLB.com - The first game of the playoffs is scheduled for September 29.
Boston.com - Chad Tracy stated, “We’re going to take it day to day,” indicating the approach to Contreras' injury management.
WHY:
MLB.com - The Red Sox are considering adding Ward to the playoff roster due to the need for outfield speed following Eli White’s season-ending injury.
MLB.com - Pederson's injury was caused by being struck by a pitch from Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt.
NY Post - The injury occurred during a game, which is a common risk in baseball.
HOW:
MLB.com - Ward has played all three outfield positions this season in Worcester, enhancing his versatility for a potential playoff role.
MLB.com - Pederson is undergoing treatment in a hyperbaric chamber to aid his recovery from the fracture.
MLB.com - Chapman stated he felt healthy enough to play catch but the team advised against it, opting for a conservative approach to his recovery.
Boston.com - The injury was caused by a pitch thrown by Jakob Junis hitting Contreras' hand.
Braiden Ward, a 27-year-old prospect for the Boston Red Sox, had an impressive performance with a five-hit game, scoring five runs and driving in three RBIs during a 16-1 victory for Triple-A Worcester. He also hit his sixth home run of the season and has stolen 61 bases, boasting an 87.5 percent success rate in his career attempts in the Minors. With the Red Sox expected to finalize their playoff roster before Game 1 of the Wild Card series on September 29, they are considering adding Ward to enhance their outfield speed following Eli White’s season-ending injury.