The Red Sox just took a gut punch. Roman Anthony, the breakout rookie who’s been lighting it up since his debut in June, is heading to the IL with a sore left oblique. And, in baseball terms, a “sore oblique” is usually code for the possibility that you might not see this guy again until October — if you’re lucky.
Red Sox Lose Their Top Bat at a Critical Time
Now, manager Alex Cora made the announcement on Wednesday morning, and while he didn’t give a hard timetable, he didn’t have to. We’ve seen this story before. Oblique strains don’t mess around — they’re four-to-six-week injuries minimum, and even that’s optimistic. Which means if you’re hoping to see Anthony again this regular season, you’d better be crossing fingers, toes, and maybe sacrificing a bucket of Fenway Franks to the baseball gods.
Let’s talk about what the Sox are losing here. Since June 9, Anthony has been nothing short of electric. The kid’s slashing .292/.396/.463 with 8 bombs, 18 doubles, and a 138 wRC+ — and for those keeping score at home, that’s 38% better than your average MLB hitter. He’s not just been good. He’s been their best bat since joining the show.
The Outfield Depth Is Wearing Thin
And it’s not like the Sox are sitting comfy atop the AL East, either. They’re 2.5 games back of the Blue Jays, and while a playoff spot seems likely, they’ve been in the hunt for that coveted first-round bye. That’s the kind of thing that could give them the edge — especially in a year when the postseason picture is crowded with sharks. Now? That road just got a lot bumpier.
And to make matters worse, Wilyer Abreu is still on the shelf with that lingering calf strain, and he hasn’t even started running yet. So who’s left? Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela are still holding down the outfield, but after that, it’s a revolving door of patchwork options: Yoshida (barely played the field this year), Refsnyder, Nate Eaton, and now Nick Sogard, who’s getting the call-up from Worcester.
Playoff Push Hinges on Timing and Health
While there’s always the slim hope that Anthony makes a miraculous comeback just in time to join a deep October run, it’s more likely the Sox will have to scrape and claw their way through September without him — and maybe, just maybe, get him back when the games matter most. That’s a lot to gamble on a rookie with an oblique strain.
So buckle up, Red Sox Nation, this playoff push just got real.
