Willson Contreras' status for playoffs in doubt as Red Sox offense sputters in 1-0 loss to Guardians

Willson Contreras has spent the past week trying to get his right hand healthy enough to swing a bat.

With the postseason now only days away, he still can’t do it without pain.

Contreras attempted to swing Wednesday and couldn’t. He returned to Fenway Park on Thursday hoping another day of treatment would make a difference, only to encounter the same problem.

Now the Red Sox are approaching the final weekend of the regular season without knowing whether their most productive hitter will be available when the playoffs begin Tuesday.

“I tried to swing yesterday, couldn’t swing, I tried to swing today and couldn’t swing, so we’re taking it day by day, putting in all my efforts with the trainers on my hand to make it feel better,” Contreras said after Thursday’s game. “As of now I don’t think I’m playing tomorrow.”

That uncertainty loomed over an otherwise forgettable evening at Fenway, where Boston’s struggling offense managed only two hits in a 1-0 loss to the Guardians.

The Red Sox (85-74) finished the three-game series with only three runs and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position Thursday, continuing an alarming offensive trend with the postseason approaching.

Contreras’ absence only makes those struggles more significant for a team that’s seemingly limping into the postseason. 

The All-Star first baseman was hit on the right hand by a pitch during the eighth inning of last Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Rangers. Imaging initially ruled out a fracture, and a new CT scan Thursday again showed no break, but Contreras continues to deal with inflammation and a bone bruise.

The slow recovery has taken an emotional toll on the veteran first baseman. 

Contreras said he teared up at his locker Thursday after discovering he still couldn’t swing. Asked about his chances of returning in time for the postseason, he offered no guarantees.

“I’m putting in all my effort, everything I can do I’m doing it, I don’t know what else to say,” Contreras said. “I’m working hard with the trainers, the hand is slowly getting better, I haven’t been able to swing and 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.”

Asked directly about his confidence level for Game 1 on Tuesday, Contreras replied, “Did you hear what I said?”

The location of the injury has complicated matters. Contreras said being hit on his right hand makes it difficult to generate the power necessary to complete his swing. Had the injury occurred to his left hand, he believes he might have been able to manage it more easily.

For now, Contreras said he will continue treatment and let his body determine whether he can play. He also made clear he won’t take a postseason roster spot simply because of his importance to the lineup.

“If I don’t feel confident in my hand to be able to play Sunday or Tuesday I’ll be completely honest with the team, I don’t want to hurt the team in any way,” Contreras said. “I know the guys here have been playing every single day, and I respect that, if I don’t feel good I don’t want to take anyone’s spot.”

Losing Contreras would leave a sizable hole in a lineup already searching for answers. In his first season with Boston, Contreras leads the club with 27 home runs while batting .276 with 81 RBI and a .905 OPS.

And right now, the Red Sox could certainly use him, as Boston is batting a major league-worst .171 (27-for-158) with runners in scoring position in September. 

The Red Sox’ best opportunity came in the fifth after Ceddanne Rafaela reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch with nobody out.

Jarren Duran popped out attempting to bunt, Trevor Story struck out looking and Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded out to strand Rafaela.

The conditions weren’t particularly favorable for hitters. A strong wind blowing in repeatedly knocked down balls hit toward the outfield, but Boston managed only two hits all afternoon.

Over three games against Cleveland, the Red Sox scored three runs. Boston’s offensive funk has reached territory it hasn’t seen in years. The Red Sox have gone consecutive games without an extra-base hit for the first time since May 29-30, 2024, and Thursday marked just the second time this season they were held to two hits or fewer.

The Red Sox have also scored two runs or fewer in five straight games, their longest such stretch since a six-game drought from June 14-19, 2014. They are 5-45 when scoring two runs or fewer this season.

Thursday’s 1-0 loss marked Boston’s eighth shutout defeat of the year and fourth at Fenway Park.

The lack of offense wasted another encouraging performance from Ranger Suarez, who appears to be hitting his stride at an opportune time.

Suarez allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings in his final regular-season start.

“That kind of puts a bow on the three of those guys,” manager Chad Tracy said about Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray and Suarez, who all pitched well in this three-game series against Cleveland. 

The game’s only run came courtesy of the shortest possible trip around Fenway Park.

Angel Martinez hooked a 2-2 changeup from Suarez around Pesky’s Pole for a 319-foot solo homer, his team-leading 18th of the season. According to the Guardians, it was the shortest home run by a Cleveland player since Edwin Encarnación hit an inside-the-park homer against the Angels on April 2, 2018.

“Some deep pitch counts early but finished with a flurry,” Tracy said. “The last couple of innings were really, really efficient. Able to get through five. On a normal start, for not limiting him, probably would have had more room (to go deeper). So to see him finish that way was really good. And all three of those guys combined all turning in a good start to finish it up.”

After stumbling out of the All-Star break, posting a 5.72 ERA with 18 earned runs over 28 1/3 innings in his first six starts, the southpaw finished with a with a bang. Suarez allowed only three earned runs over his final 24 2/3 innings, good for a 1.09 ERA across four starts.

“Overall, I think it was a good season,” Suarez said to reporters. “Obviously there was a couple months I was dealing with a lower back and also groin. Obviously I think I could have done better. But I’m happy with the way I was able to finish up the season strong.”

As the Red Sox gear up for October baseball, the left-hander is no stranger to pitching in big games. Suarez owns a 1.48 ERA in 11 career postseason appearances, including eight starts, all with the Phillies, and appears positioned to start a potential Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series, though the Red Sox have not announced their rotation.

Patrick Sandoval followed Suarez with a scoreless sixth, allowing one hit and striking out one in his first relief appearance of the season and eighth of his career.

Whether Sandoval has a place on Boston’s Wild Card roster remains unclear. If he does, his recent usage suggests it would come out of the bullpen.

Erik Miller followed with perhaps an even more important inning. After a rough stretch that raised questions about his reliability entering October, Miller needed only eight pitches, seven strikes, to retire Cleveland in order in the seventh. He recorded a strikeout, flyout and lineout.

The clean inning was a welcome development after Miller allowed six earned runs on five hits, six walks and two hit batters over 3 2/3 innings in his previous four appearances.

The Guardians clinched their third consecutive postseason berth and the 19th in franchise history with the victory, setting off a celebration at Fenway Park.

It may not be their final celebration of the regular season. Cleveland (83-76) enters the final weekend with a one-game lead over the White Sox (82-77) in the AL Central and is closing in on its third straight division title. Winning the Central would also secure a first-round bye and send the Guardians directly to the AL Division Series.

A Wild Card showdown with the Yankees remains overwhelmingly likely, but it isn’t mathematically set entering the final weekend. Boston’s magic number to secure the second AL Wild Card, and a trip to Yankee Stadium beginning Tuesday, remains at one.

For the Red Sox to fall to the third Wild Card spot, they would have to lose all three remaining games while the White Sox win all three and Cleveland wins at least two of three.

Boston will begin its final series of the regular season with a doubleheader against the Cubs on Friday at Fenway Park. Game 1 is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., followed by Game 2 at 6:05.

The Red Sox have not announced their starters. Chicago will send right-hander Clay Holmes (6-8, 3.25 ERA) to the mound in the opener and left-hander David Peterson (9-8, 4.96) in the nightcap.

Nor’Easter Could Send Red Sox to Tropicana Field

The Red Sox could finish the regular season playing a home game at Tropicana Field.

With a major storm expected to hit New England this weekend, MLB is considering moving at least one game of Boston’s series against the Cubs to St. Petersburg, where Tropicana Field is available with the Rays finishing their season on the road.

“There’s been discussions around an alternate site,” Tracy said Thursday. “There has been talk about a handful of different places. At this point, nothing is concrete.”

For now, Boston and Chicago are scheduled to play a split doubleheader Friday at Fenway Park. The Red Sox are preparing for the possibility of flying to Florida afterward and playing Sunday at Tropicana Field. An official decision is expected Friday.

“We’d have to leave tomorrow,” Tracy said.

The uncertainty also leaves Boston’s pitching plans unsettled. Jake Bennett, Brayan Bello and Raymond Burgos are among the candidates to cover innings Friday, while Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo and Jedixson Paez could factor in if an additional game is necessary Sunday.