The Boston Red Sox are trying to fight their way into the American League East race, but the injuries are starting to make it difficult. The Red Sox were dealt a bad hand when first baseman Triston Casas tore his patellar tendon earlier this month, and the lineup took another shot when Alex Bregman limped off the field with right quad tightness during the first game of a doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
While the extent of Bregman’s injury is unknown, the fact he immediately took himself out of the game after a single in the bottom of the fifth inning doesn’t bode well for his availability. It puts a Red Sox star back into the spotlight for a chance to redeem himself this season.
Trevor Story Must Step Up After Alex Bregman Injury
The Red Sox have been inconsistent at the plate this season and a big reason has been the play of Trevor Story. The two-time All-Star has struggled to find the form he flashed as a member of the Colorado Rockies, hitting .227/.272/.335 with six home runs and 21 RBI after the first game of Friday’s doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles. Matters have gotten worse over the past month as he hasn’t had a multi-hit game since May 2 against the Minnesota Twins, and currently leads the American League with 62 strikeouts this season.
If Story were a young player or a veteran at the end of his career, there’s a good chance he would have been demoted or designated for assignment. But Story has two guaranteed years remaining on a six-year $140 million contract signed in 2022 and is likely to exercise a three-year, $55 million player option next offseason.
The contract is a disaster and the play might be even worse. The frustration grows as top shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer tears up Triple-A pitching and the Red Sox lose Bregman, who was hitting .299/.385/.553 with 11 homers and 35 RBI at the time of his injury. It requires Story to try to level up, and the good news is that’s still in the tank.
Story appeared to be on the redemption tour as he hit .278/.322/.435 with five homers and 16 RBI during the month of April. But those numbers dropped to .169/.213/.225 with one home run and five RBI in May. If Story can find his April form, the Red Sox should be able to weather the storm if Bregman is out for an extended period and perhaps validate his massive salary for the rest of the season.