Boston Red Sox
AL East
The Red Sox have exercised their club option on Rob Refsnyder. (Source: Red Sox on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Refsnyder is set to make $2 million in 2025. The veteran posted a .283 average, with 11 home runs, and 40 RBI in 93 games last season.
Category: Transactions
The Pirates signed Yohan Ramirez to a minor league contract.
Fantasy Impact: Ramirez spent this past season with the Dodgers, Red Sox, Orioles, and Mets. He returns to Pittsburgh who he was previously with.
Category: Transactions
Enmanuel Valdez is in the starting lineup for Boston Sunday.
Fantasy Impact: Valdez will start at third base and bat ninth against the Rays. He is hitting .217, with six home runs, and 28 RBI this season.
Ceddanne Rafaela is in the starting lineup for Boston Sunday.
Fantasy Impact: Rafaela will start in center field and bat seventh against the Rays. He is hitting .244, with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, and 19 stolen bases this season.
Nick Sogard is in the starting lineup for the Red Sox Sunday.
Fantasy Impact: Sogard will start at shortstop and bat sixth against the Rays. He is hitting .274 with eight RBI this season.
Connor Wong is in the starting lineup for Boston Sunday.
Fantasy Impact: Wong will start behind the plate and bat fourth against the Rays. He is hitting .280, with 13 home runs, and 51 RBI this season.
Kutter Crawford endured a rough outing, allowing six earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six over 4 1/3 innings in Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Rays.
Fantasy Impact: This performance marks a setback for Crawford, who has struggled with consistency throughout the season, reflected in his elevated 4.36 ERA and 16 losses. Despite a decent WHIP of 1.12 and a solid strikeout rate, his inability to limit runs has been a recurring issue. Fantasy managers should be wary of relying on him as a stable option, given his fluctuating performances and the potential for high earned runs, which could hurt ratios in critical matchups.
Category: Game Recaps
Wilyer Abreu went 1-for-4 in the Red Sox's 7-2 loss to the Rays.
Fantasy Impact: This performance was a minor blip in what has been a reasonably productive season for Abreu, who has maintained a .255 batting average with some power and speed contributions. His ability to hit 33 doubles and 15 homers this season highlights his potential for extra-base hits, which is valuable for fantasy managers needing slugging from their outfield spots. However, his high strikeout rate remains a concern, potentially capping his batting average upside. Moving forward, Abreu's mixed contributions in power and speed should keep him relevant in most fantasy formats, but managers should temper expectations due to his inconsistency at the plate.
Category: Game Recaps
Triston Casas went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI in the Red Sox's 7-2 loss to the Rays.
Fantasy Impact: His solo shot provided one of the few offensive highlights for Boston in a game where they struggled to generate much momentum. Casas's power continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise middling season, as he now boasts 13 homers. However, his .240 batting average and high strikeout rate remain areas of concern. Fantasy managers should value Casas for his home run potential but be wary of the batting average and strikeout liabilities he brings to the table. His ability to draw walks and contribute occasional RBIs does add some value.
Category: Game Recaps
Masataka Yoshida is missing from the lineup for the Boston Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday. (Source: Boston Red Sox on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Yoshida will take a seat on the bench for rest reasons, with Mickey Gasper batting fifth and occupying the designated hitter spot for manager Alex Cora against the Rays Saturday.
Tyler O’Neill is back in the lineup for the Boston Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday. (Source: Boston Red Sox on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: O’Neill returns after taking a seat on the bench for rest reasons Friday night, patrolling left field and batting cleanup against the Rays for manager Alex Cora Saturday.
Vaughn Grissom went 3-for-4 with a run scored in the Red Sox's 2-1 loss to the Rays.
Fantasy Impact: Despite the team's defeat, Grissom's performance was a bright spot, marking a significant improvement over his season, posting a batting average of .192. This game could be a turning point for Grissom, who has struggled to find consistency at the plate throughout the season. His ability to hit safely three times in this game might hint at an upward trend as he seeks to establish himself more firmly in the lineup. However, fantasy managers should remain cautious.
Category: Game Recaps
Nick Pivetta delivered a solid performance but took the loss in Friday's tight 2-1 game against the Rays.
Fantasy Impact: He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing just two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six. Despite this quality start, Pivetta's season has been a mixed bag, characterized by an ERA of 4.14 and an impressive 10.6 K/9, but hampered by a lackluster win-loss record now standing at 6-12. His ability to maintain a high strikeout rate and a low WHIP of 1.13 continues to make him a valuable asset in strikeout-heavy fantasy formats, though his win potential remains limited by the Red Sox's inconsistent support.
Category: Game Recaps
Quinn Priester is 'in the mix' to start Sunday's game vs the Rays. (Source: Jen McCaffrey on X)
Fantasy Impact: Manager Alex Cora didn't commit to a starter for Sunday, but he did rule out both Tanner Houck and Brayan Bello. Priester was acquired by the Red Sox at the trade deadline from the Pirates, where he 5.04 ERA in six starts this season.
Richard Fitts struggled in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two over five innings.
Fantasy Impact: This outing marked a significant deviation from his otherwise stellar season stats, including a 1.74 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Fitts's performance today could raise concerns among fantasy managers about his consistency, especially given his low strikeout rate of 3.9 K/9. While his ERA and WHIP remain impressive, his low strikeout ability limits his upside in fantasy formats that heavily reward strikeouts. Owners should monitor his next few starts closely to see if adjustments are made or if his early-season success begins to wane.
Category: Game Recaps
Trevor Story went 0-for-3 in the Red Sox's 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays, managing two walks and a stolen base.
Fantasy Impact: Despite not contributing hits or RBIs, Story's ability to draw walks and swipe a base adds a slight silver lining to his fantasy managers. His season batting average remains at .250, and with a high strikeout rate of 30.3%, his inconsistency at the plate continues to be a concern. Fantasy managers should note his moderate stolen base tally, which can provide some value, but his overall production might not justify a starting spot in all formats. Keep an eye on his ability to get on base and run, which are currently his primary sources of fantasy relevance.
Category: Game Recaps
Tanner Houck delivered a stellar performance, allowing no earned runs and just one hit over five innings in Monday's 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays.
Fantasy Impact: He walked one and, notably, struck out none, relying on contact management and solid defense to navigate through the game efficiently. This outing, marked by Houck's ability to suppress runs without the aid of strikeouts, underscores his evolution as a pitcher who can succeed even without overpowering stuff. His season ERA now improves to an impressive 3.12, reinforcing his status as a reliable option in fantasy rotations. While his low strikeout count for the game might concern some, his consistent control and ability to limit base runners (1.14 WHIP) should keep him valuable in most formats.
Category: Game Recaps
The Red Sox officially placed Kenley Jansen on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation.
Fantasy Impact: This was the expectation as of Sunday. Jansen will finish the season on the injured list. He is set to enter free agency this offseason.
Category: Injury Updates
The Red Sox recalled Chase Shugart from Triple-A Worcester.
Fantasy Impact: Shugart will close the regular season in the bullpen with Boston.
Category: Transactions
Rafael Devers will not need surgery on his shoulder. (Source: Jen McCaffrey on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Devers underwent an MRI that revealed no structural damage in his left shoulder. He should be fully healthy heading into next season.
Category: Injury Updates