Boston Red Sox

J.D. Martinez is absent from Boston's lineup on Thursday afternoon in Minnesota.

Fantasy Impact: It's a routine day off for JDM, who is off to a scorching hot start this year. Fantasy managers who bought into his reduced ADP must be feeling good about that decision thus far.

Christian Vazquez went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored as the Red Sox beat the Twins on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Vazquez only started one of the two games that Boston played on Wednesday, which is to be expected. He's off to a sizzling start this year, batting .325 with two homers, two steals, and a .922 OPS. He's entrenched as a top-10 catching option for the rest of the season.

Christian Arroyo went a combined 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Wednesday's doubleheader sweep over the Twins.

Fantasy Impact: Arroyo only started the first game, but he also pinch-hit in the nightcap. The 25-year-old already has five doubles on the young season. He isn't really a season-long option, but he could be in play for DFS on the rare occasions that he hits atop the lineup.

Eduardo Rodriguez earned the win on Wednesday in Minnesota, allowing one run over five innings while striking out seven.

Fantasy Impact: E-Rod gave up five hits and one walk in the outing, which lowered his ERA to 3.60 through two starts. The southpaw missed the entire 2020 season due to some medical complications from COVID-19, but he's been impressive in the early going. Rodriguez's next start comes at home against the Blue Jays, which is one that fantasy managers might want to consider benching him for.

Nathan Eovaldi earned the win on Wednesday in Minnesota, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings while striking out three.

Fantasy Impact: Eovaldi didn't walk anyone in the outing, and he now has a 2.08 ERA through three starts. The right-hander has had a strong start to the season and remains worth starting in 12-team mixed leagues moving forward.

Alex Verdugo went a combined 5-for-8 with a home run as the Red Sox swept Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Fantasy Impact: Verdugo's batting average jumped from .194 to .273 on the day. It was a big performance for the young outfielder, who is still in line to score a boat load of runs atop Boston's lineup. Fantasy managers should continue starting him week in and week out.

Red Sox pitching prospect, Bryan Mata, underwent Tommy John surgery. (Source: Julian McWilliams on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bryan Mata last pitched in 2019 in Double-A with a 5.03 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 25.2% K%, and 10.3% BB% in 53.2 IP. He's only relevant in dynasty formats with three average to above-average pitches (fastball, curve, and changeup), but has below-average command and control.

Xander Bogaerts went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in Boston's 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday afternoon.

Fantasy Impact: Bogaerts is hitting well this season, putting up a .361 average through nine games. However, he's still searching for his first homer of the young season. The power will come, of course, and fantasy managers are encouraged to remain patient.

Bobby Dalbec went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI as the Red Sox beat the Twins 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon.

Fantasy Impact: One of Dalbec's doubles was a go-ahead RBI late in the game. He now has three extra base hits over his past two games and could be busting out of his early-season slump.

Martin Perez received a no-decision on Tuesday against the Twins, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings pitched.

Fantasy Impact: Perez struck out two and walked three in the outing, which the Red Sox ultimately went on to win. It was a snowy day in Minnesota, so it definitely wasn't ideal pitching conditions, but Perez did enough to give Boston a chance to win. Still, he'll remain off the fantasy radar for his next start against the White Sox.

Matt Barnes recorded his first save of the season in Tuesday's win over the Twins, striking out one in a scoreless ninth.

Fantasy Impact: Barnes slammed the door on Minnesota for Boston's seventh straight victory. The 30-year-old reliever has been dominant so far this season -- registering a 12:1 K:BB ratio over six scoreless innings. Barnes is pitching like a top-10 fantasy reliever at the moment.

Hunter Renfroe, who was battling side soreness over the weekend, is playing center field and hitting sixth on Monday against the Twins.

Fantasy Impact: It was never considered a serious issue, but Renfroe is ready to rock and roll opposite J.A. Happ this afternoon. He should continue seeing regular playing time against lefties this year.

Kiké Hernandez went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored as the Red Sox won their sixth straight game on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact: Hernandez continues to get chances as Boston's primary leadoff hitter. He's also been one of the unluckier bats in baseball to start the season, so fantasy managers should show some patience.

Rafael Devers totaled two more homers on Sunday as the Red Sox beat the Orioles for their sixth straight victory.

Fantasy Impact: Devers now has four homers and nine RBI over his past three games. A traditional slow starter, the young third baseman is heating up in a big way as the Red Sox visit the Twins to begin the upcoming week.

Nick Pivetta improved to 2-0 on Sunday in Baltimore, allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings pitched.

Fantasy Impact: Pivetta struck out seven and walked three in the outing. The overall line would've looked a lot better if he had been pulled after five, but the right-hander gave up a three-run homer in the sixth inning. Pivetta has looked better since joining the Red Sox, but he should remain on fantasy waiver wires ahead of a matchup with the Chicago White Sox this upcoming weekend.

Garrett Richards received a no-decision in Saturday's eventual win over the Orioles, allowing two runs on three hits over five innings pitched.

Fantasy Impact: Both runs came via solo homers -- each of which occurred in the first inning. From there, Richards settled in and was ultimately much better than he was in his first start last Sunday. Despite the improvement, fantasy managers should leave him on the bench for his next start against the Twins.

The Red Sox optioned INF Michael Chavis to the team's alternate training site. (Source: Jason Mastrodonato on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Chavis had a one-game stay with the club after J.D. Martinez was placed on the COVID-19 related injured list. He'll continue serving as infield depth for the organization.

Red Sox RHP Garrett Whitlock pitched two perfect innings while striking out three on Thursday against the Orioles.

Fantasy Impact: Whitlock earned his first career hold in the outing. The 24-year-old now has eight strikeouts through his first two appearances, and he appears to be operating as a "relief ace" for the Red Sox so far. A Rule 5 pick from the Yankees, Whitlock is a name to watch in deep, deep dynasty leagues.

Red Sox ace Chris Sale (elbow) has advanced throwing off flat ground 120 feet but no date announced for when he’ll throw off a mound. (Source: Alex Speier on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Sale is on track to return from Tommy John surgery sometime in the middle of the season. The Red Sox haven’t announced a specific timeline and Sale has yet to throw off a mound. Sale is currently 77th among all pitchers in the latest expert consensus rankings, but that number could drop if his return to the mound is delayed.

Boston Red Sox RHP Tanner Houck has been optioned to the team's alternate on Wednesday to clear a roster spot. (Source: Boston Red Sox on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Houck has looked good over one start and one relief appearance to begin the season but the Red Sox needed to clear a roster spot. He should be back up with the club soon enough.