Boston Red Sox
Abreu dealt with some swelling and was a late scratch from Saturday’s lineup.
Wilyer Abreu was scratched from Boston’s lineup Saturday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Wilyer Abreu was noticeably absent from the Red Sox lineup Saturday, but Chad Tracy doesn’t seem to believe his issue will linger much longer than the one-game absence.
Abreu was initially in Boston’s lineup, but got scratched just ahead of the 4:10 p.m. first pitch. The Gold Glover got hit in the leg during Friday night’s game, and had some swelling as a result.
Tracy spoke on Abreu’s minor ailment postgame Saturday.
“He’s doing better, he got more treatment,” Tracy told reporters. “I’m hopeful for tomorrow, we’ll definitely check in in the morning. We’ve kind of been in that phase for a few days where we’re kind of TBD on the lineup and checking on guys in the morning.”
Chad Tracy says he’s “hopeful” that Wilyer Abreu
will be back in the lineup tomorrow. Sounds like they’ll check in on him in the morning and go from there. pic.twitter.com/VisoKWb8ox
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) August 8, 2026
Abreu has been steady for the better part of three seasons in Boston’s lineup, both offensively and in right field. He has the second-most home runs (20) and RBIs (62) on the team, a .256 batting average and a .793 OPS in 2026.
The lefty slugger has had quite an eventful week between his dramatic ninth-inning game-tying RBI Thursday that led to an extra-innings win, his 3-RBI night Friday, and the injury to go with it.
As Tracy alluded in his comments, many of Boston’s players are banged up to varying degrees, which is common during this stretch of the season. Willson Contreras is clearly hampered, for example — he showed low effort on a runout to first base following a routine ground out towards third.
Tracy gave Contreras a pass on that effort (because of the ailments he’s been playing through), even if the Red Sox faithful at Fenway Park did not.
Abreu is the latest to suffer a minor injury, although if Tracy’s prognosis is accurate, it won’t be long at all before he’s back in the lineup. Game 3 vs. the Athletics is set for 1:35 p.m. Sunday.
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