The Boston Red Sox are kicking off their postseason on Tuesday, but man, they’ve only scraped together 5 runs over their last 5 games. You know what that means: they desperately need their best offensive spark back, and Willson Contreras just might not be it. This whole situation is a total gut punch, especially when every single at-bat is about to count for everything.
Contreras took some swings in batting practice on Tuesday, which sounds like good news, right? Nope, the exact opposite happened. His hand injury has gotten even worse in the days since. He’s still struggling big time to even grip a bat, and he admitted to actually tearing up from the sheer frustration of it all. “I’m doing everything that I can to come back and play with the boys and be there with the boys,” he said, “But sometimes you have to listen to your body.” That quote right there tells you everything you need to know about how serious this is. The team’s best offensive guy is sidelined, hurting, and struggling to even hold a bat, all while the offense is basically asleep at the wheel. How are they supposed to get through the postseason like this?
At least Ceddanne Rafaela is back, and that’s gotta give them some kind of lift, even if it’s just a little one. But even his return creates another headache for manager Chad Tracy. Suddenly, the Sox have way too many outfielders and designated hitters to fit into the lineup all at once. With Roman Anthony, Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu essentially locked into starting spots, Tracy has to make a tough call. Does he prioritize Duran’s glove and speed, or go with the platoon DH production from Mickey Gasper and Jahmai Jones? It’s a tough spot to be in when you’re trying to figure out your best nine, and it’s happening against the backdrop of a storm that could move games to Tropicana Field in St. Pete.
With all this depressing news about Contreras, the team could definitely use someone to fire them up. Good thing Pedro Martinez is still around, because he still believed in this squad even during the dark days of May. “I just feel good about approaching the Yankees this time around,” the Hall of Famer said. “And [the Red Sox] are young, yes. We don’t have the highest expectations about them, but man, for some reason, I just feel so positive.” He’s feeling excited about this young group of guys doing something special. Martinez sees nothing wrong with these kids, and he doesn’t see why they shouldn’t “give everybody knuckles.” Not just the Yankees, he said, but *everyone*. And if they’re gonna go out there and give everybody knuckles, then Ranger Suarez is probably gonna be a huge part of it. The offseason signing has a crazy good postseason resume, and his 2026 stats are right in line with what he was doing in Philadelphia, even if he sounds a bit disappointed. “Obviously I think I could have done better,” Suarez admitted about his season, “But I was happy I was able to finish the season strong.”
The postseason starts Tuesday. They need to find that spark and prove Pedro Martinez isn’t just blowing smoke.
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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