On Thursday night, the Boston Red Sox will aim to secure a four-game sweep against the Chicago White Sox in the final match of their series at Fenway Park. However, Boston will face this challenge without one of its key offensive players.
Event Context
The veteran player joined the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2026 season following a trade acquisition. With Contreras out of action, Nick Sogard will take the field as the starting first baseman and will lead off in Thursday’s batting order.
For the series finale, the Red Sox’s starting lineup includes: Nick Sogard (1B), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Wilyer Abreu (RF), Caleb Durbin (3B), Masataka Yoshida (DH), Jarren Duran (LF), Andruw Monasterio (SS), Adam Seigler (2B), and Connor Wong (C). Ranger Suárez will be on the mound to start the game.
Before the game begins, Chad Tracy confirmed that Monasterio and Duran have switched places in the batting order.
Player Focus
Also check out: Why did the Pirates part ways with Marcell Ozuna before completing a full season? An analysis of the Pittsburgh designated hitter’s performance prior to his exit.
On the pitching side, left-hander Ranger Suárez is set to make his 20th start of the season. With a record of 4-3 and a 3.15 ERA over 100 innings pitched in 2026, he has shown promise. However, since returning from the injured list last month, Suárez has struggled to reach five innings in both of his subsequent appearances.
Team Analysis
Willson Contreras will not be in Thursday’s starting lineup after leaving Wednesday’s game due to illness. The All-Star first baseman is currently listed as day-to-day, as the team has decided to provide him with extra time to recover.
During Wednesday’s game, Contreras started to feel unwell and was unable to complete the match. Interim manager Chad Tracy addressed the situation, stating, “He’s a little under the weather. Feeling a little sick and then we took some temperatures as the game was going. Temperature started to go up. He started to get a little dizzy, so we thought it was best to get him out of there.”
Match Outlook
Red Sox beat reporter Gabrielle Starr recently provided an update concerning interim manager Chad Tracy’s comments on Contreras. Tracy stated that while Contreras is feeling unwell, his fever is currently “not real high.” The team will keep a close watch on his health over the next few hours to assess if he might be available as a pinch hitter.
Although Contreras sat out Thursday’s game, he has had a remarkable season so far. In 105 games, the four-time All-Star boasts a .288 batting average, racking up 104 hits, including 18 doubles, two triples, and 23 home runs. Additionally, he has scored 57 runs, driven in 70 RBIs, and stolen three bases.
As for the Red Sox, they are entering Thursday’s game with significant momentum, having won seven consecutive games following Wednesday’s win. The team has impressively secured nine victories in their last ten games, currently holding a record of 62-51, which places them 5.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
