Boston Red Sox
Anthony recently told reporters he began experiencing back tightness after swinging during a game.
Roman Anthony’s rookie season last year was cut short due to an oblique strain. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
April 24, 2026 | 5:17 PM
2 minutes to read
The top of the Boston Red Sox’ lineup will look different for a third straight game.
Roman Anthony will miss his third consecutive game as he deals with back tightness, according to the Red Sox’ starting lineup ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles.
Anthony, 21, last played in Tuesday’s series opener against the New York Yankees. He said his back issue popped up during that game.
After Thursday’s loss and being swept by the Yankees, Anthony detailed his ailment to reporters.
“Just a weird thing that happened on a swing,” Anthony described the origin of his injury (via MassLive’s Christopher Smith). “It was weird. I felt something. It was really cold, so I didn’t have a great idea as to what it was. I went back in the dugout and watched back on the video. I hit it and I kind of made a face and went back in the dugout and put my helmet down and felt something and knew it was a little bit strange.”
Anthony explained that the problem is in his upper back, a place he said he’s never had a physical problem with before. He said he isn’t concerned about his back tightness, though.
Anthony’s rookie year last season was cut short by a left oblique strain in September. It kept him out of Boston’s wild-card series with the Yankees in October, its first playoff appearance since 2021.
The oblique is located on the sides of one’s abdomen, which is integral to one’s ability to swing a baseball bat.
Anthony noted that his 2025 oblique injury was worse than what he’s currently dealing with.
“I think it’s good that I know where I was at last year with the oblique and how severe that was and don’t feel that way about this at all,” Anthony said.
He also said that as of Thursday night, he expected to return to the diamond “in the next couple of days” (via MLB.com’s Ian Browne). A Friday return sounded optimistic, so it isn’t surprising to see him sidelined for at least another game entering the weekend.
Anthony, much like the rest of the Red Sox’ bats, has struggled to begin the 2026 season. He’s batting .225 with a .361 on-base percentage and a .686 OPS. He hit his lone home run on April 1 against the Houston Astros and has driven in just four runs through 22 games (80 at-bats).
Perhaps a few days off will not only help his back get right, but also his mindset in the batter’s box upon his return.
Kaley Brown
Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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