The Boston Red Sox are slumping (5-9 in their last 14 games and have scored just five runs in their last six games), and it couldn't have come at a worse time as they prepare to begin their final series of the regular season against the Chicago Cubs in a doubleheader on Friday.
Boston has no momentum going into the postseason, and it seems like things are getting worse before they get better.
Red Sox dealt big Willson Contreras injury blow ahead of the playoffs
Willson Contreras hasn't played since Sep. 17 after sustaining a right hand injury, and even that came after he missed the first couple of weeks of the month due to a hamstring injury.
Unfortunately for Contreras and the Red Sox, it seems like a real possibility their All-Star first baseman won't suit up again this season, and it's very possible he at least won't play in the team's first Wild Card game against the New York Yankees (most likely) on Tuesday.
After Thursday's game, Contreras said that, even though his hand injury is getting better, he is still unable to swing a bat. The Venezuelan native also made it clear that he will "be completely honest with the team" if he feels he won't be ready to go for Tuesday's game.
“I mean, it’s really concerning,” Contreras said postgame. “But at the same time, I’m putting all my effort — and everything I can do, I’m doing it. I don’t know what else to say. I’m working hard with the trainers; the hand is slowly getting better."
“But I haven’t been able to swing the last two days. I’ll be honest with the team. I know Tuesday is a really important game. It’s a really important series, and I’ll be completely honest with the team. ... Hopefully, I can swing the bat [Friday] and Saturday and go from there. But like I said, I’m an honest guy, and if I don’t feel confident in my hand to be able to play either Sunday or Tuesday, I’ll be completely honest with the team."
Willson Contreras says that he was "hoping to swing today" but the pain in his hand didn't allow it 💔
— NESN (@NESN) September 25, 2026
"I'm doing everything I can to come back and play with the boys... sometimes you have to listen to your body."
🎙️ Presented by @WBMasonCo pic.twitter.com/2Tr21Cw50X
The Red Sox are going to struggle if Willson Contreras is out
Even though he has mostly struggled recently (.232 BA, four HRs, and 14 RBIs in 27 games since the beginning of August), Contreras has been crucial to Boston's success this season. He has been the team's best and most consistent offensive player all season, and being without him would leave a big hole in the lineup that the team would struggle to fill.
Assuming Contreras doesn't suit up at all in the playoffs, the Red Sox are going to have to rely more heavily on Mickey Gasper (had a really fun stretch about a month ago, but he's batting just .196 in 20 games in September) and Nick Sogard, who has been decent (.230 BA in 20 games this month), but he's not Contreras.
Given the Red Sox' recent slump, they are already facing an uphill battle as they roll into the playoffs. But if they're going to be without Contreras on top of that, then that may ultimately be the death knell for them.
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