Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is set to begin a rehab stint Friday with Double-A Portland as he works back from a strained left hamstring. Contreras is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list later this week and wants to play in at least one rehab game before rejoining the team.
Contreras was placed on the injured list on Aug. 31 with the hamstring issue, which had been bothering him for over a month. Interim manager Chad Tracy said Wednesday that Contreras will play at least Friday and the team will check in with him after that. "He just wants to get on his feet. He's been down for a while; just to get on his feet and, actually, see some pitching, move around at first, maybe get on base," Tracy said.
The 34-year-old Contreras is batting .274 with a career-high 26 home runs and 79 RBI, leading the team in both categories in his first season with Boston after being acquired in an offseason trade from St. Louis.
Tracy also said catcher Adley Rutschman received a cortisone shot on his right elbow after homering in Monday's win over the Angels. Rutschman, who has been in and out of the lineup with the sore elbow, sat out for a second straight game Wednesday but is expected back Friday when the Red Sox open a home series against Kansas City.
Left-hander Garrett Crochet felt fine one day after throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session, according to Tracy. Crochet has been sidelined since April 26 with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, and he is scheduled to throw another bullpen Friday as the team hopes to have him ramped up for the postseason if Boston earns a spot. The Red Sox are comfortably ahead in the second of the AL's three wild cards.
