Willson Contreras Dealing With Lingering Hand Pain

Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is still dealing with pain in his right hand. He explained to reporters on Thursday that he’s been unable to swing the past two days due to lingering discomfort. Contreras has been out for a week after he was hit by a Jakob Junis sinker last Thursday.

Contreras had additional imaging done Wednesday. The scan didn’t reveal a fracture, he told reporters, including Christopher Smith of MassLive.com.

Boston has wrapped up a Wild Card spot and will begin postseason action on Tuesday. Contreras will have three more chances to suit up in the regular season before the playoffs. He said he’s unlikely to play in tomorrow’s doubleheader. Contreras added that he’d be open with the team about whether he could play in the first round of the playoffs.

“I’m an honest guy,” Contreras said, as relayed by Smith. “And if I don’t feel confidence in my hand to be able to play either Sunday or Tuesday, I’ll be completely honest with the team. I don’t want to hurt the team in any way.”

If Contreras is unable to make the postseason roster, it’ll continue to be Nick Sogard and Mickey Gasper handling first base. Utility players Andruw Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa could chip in as right-handed hitting options. Sogard moved to first base when Contreras was knocked out of the game against the Rangers. He’s started six straight games at the position.

Missing Contreras for the Wild Card round would be a major loss for the Red Sox. The 34-year-old has a career-best 152 wRC+ this season. Contreras paces the Red Sox in home runs, RBI, and OBP.

The Red Sox did get one key contributor back in the lineup on Thursday. Outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela returned after leaving early on Wednesday. Rafaela had an MRI on his hamstring that came back clean, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. The hamstring injury occurred in Rafaela’s first game back after missing a couple of weeks with a quad strain.

Rafaela is wrapping up the best offensive season of his young career. After three seasons with a sub-.250 batting average, the outfielder was hitting .284 heading into tonight’s action. Rafaela has a solid 109 wRC+. He’s continued to provide Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field.

Boston also shared an update on injured starter Garrett Crochet. The left-hander is scheduled to face hitters on Saturday, per Tim Healey of the Boston Globe. He’ll do so in Florida, with rough weather coming to Boston. Healey adds that a decision on Crochet’s postseason roster spot will come after the live batting practice session.

Crochet has been sidelined since late April with shoulder inflammation. His recovery was delayed by a lat strain. He’s expected to operate as a reliever if he can make it back to the Red Sox.