Adley Rutschman, the guy who’s been a force, sat out a second straight game last night. But don’t let that send you into a full-blown panic: the team says it was a planned night off, and he’s expected back in the lineup tomorrow. What *did* happen, though, was a cortisone injection for a balky elbow, which the team also wants you to chill out about. Chad Tracy explained it wasn’t a “something went wrong” injection, but more like a strategic move to “get him over the hump” during a planned window for days off. So, it sounds like they’re trying to be proactive, which, you know, is better than being reactive when your star catcher’s elbow is barking.
The Red Sox Are Banged Up, But Help Is Coming
Rutschman isn’t the only one on the Red Sox feeling the soreness. Eli White was also out of the lineup after a brutal crash into the centerfield fence on Tuesday night. Tracy said the dude is “sore, very sore,” with his foot jamming hard into that “garage door” when he tried to make the catch. He’s heading for imaging today or tomorrow morning, so we’ll see exactly what’s going on there. Losing a player to a wall collision is never fun, but it highlights the kind of hustle this team is putting out there. The good news is the cavalry’s actually on its way. Ceddanne Rafaela is slated to come off the IL on Tuesday, and Willson Contreras is expected to start a minor league rehab game with Portland this weekend. Tracy said Contreras “just wants to get on his feet” and see some pitching after being down for a while, which is exactly what you want to hear from a guy coming back.
The “Delusional” Mindset Powering Mickey Gasper’s Bat
If Rutschman does need more time, the Red Sox have a serious silver lining in Mickey Gasper, whose late-season hot streak is one of the year’s coolest stories. This guy is *resurgent*, and his bat is ready to slot right in. What’s his secret? His former high school coach, Steve Lomasney, described it as “almost delusional.” Seriously, Lomasney said you “have to be that way: ‘I’m going to compete as hard as I possibly can, and I’m never going to lose because my work ethic is going to be better than the other guys.’” That kind of mindset is infectious, and it’s clearly paying off for Gasper right now. Sonny Gray, at 36, is also having arguably the best season of his career, a testament to his meticulous work between starts, from his practice delivery to his journaling and diet. It just shows you what relentless preparation and a competitive fire can do.
The next few days will be huge for seeing how these guys bounce back and if that “delusional” energy keeps fueling the Red Sox lineup. It’s all about riding that momentum and getting healthy as the season winds down.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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