Red Sox sweep doubleheader as Wilyer Abreu delivers late; Gasper likely out for Yankees

By the time the Red Sox took the field for the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, their postseason destination was already set.

They still found a way to finish a long day at Fenway Park with another win.

Wilyer Abreu snapped an 0-for-11 skid with a two-run double in the eighth inning, while Brayan Bello and Jedixson Paez combined for a shutout as the Red Sox completed a doubleheader sweep of the Cubs with a 2-0 victory.

Boston improved to 87-74 after winning the opener, 4-3, earlier Friday. That victory locked the Red Sox into the No. 5 seed in the American League and officially set up a rematch with the Yankees in the best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

With the standings no longer a concern, the rest of the weekend is about getting ready for New York.

Abreu entered Game 2 mired in a difficult September, carrying a .622 OPS for the month. He had gone hitless in his first seven at-bats of the doubleheader, including two strikeouts, before stepping to the plate with two outs in the eighth.

This time, Abreu delivered, ripping a two-run double to break a scoreless tie and give Boston a 2-0 lead.

The hit snapped an 0-for-11 skid for Abreu, whose streaky nature has been on display over the past two months. He posted a .971 OPS in August before cooling considerably in September.

After reaching base four times and collecting three extra-base hits in Game 1, Roman Anthony went 1-for-3 with a walk in the nightcap. He finished the doubleheader 4-for-6 with two doubles, a triple and two walks. Over his last six games, Anthony is 10-for-28 (.357) with six extra-base hits.

For an offense that has struggled throughout September, getting its leadoff hitter hot heading into the postseason could provide a significant boost.

The pitching was the bigger story in Game 2, with Bello continuing his impressive turnaround by tossing four scoreless innings against the Cubs.

His season looked much different before a demotion to Triple-A Worcester. Since returning to the majors, Bello has allowed one run or fewer in 12 of his 14 appearances, posting a 2.11 ERA with 13 runs allowed over 55 1/3 innings.

Bello isn’t expected to start during the Wild Card Series, but his work since returning from Worcester has strengthened his case for a spot on the postseason roster, where he could return to his role out of the bullpen. 

Paez provided length to the bullpen in Game 2, allowing Chad Tracy to rest his relievers with the travel day coming on Saturday. 

The Red Sox recalled the 22-year-old between games after optioning Raymond Burgos, who earned the save with two scoreless innings in the opener.

Paez’s first appearance with Boston on Sept. 1 was one to forget. He surrendered eight runs over 3 2/3 innings against Seattle. Paez replaced Bello and tossed five scoreless innings to finish the game, limiting the Cubs to three hits without issuing a walk while striking out four.

Paez became the first Red Sox pitcher to finish a victory with at least five scoreless innings since Scott Taylor threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees on Oct. 3, 1992. The right-hander is also just the fifth pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat within his first five career games and only the second in the last 70 years, joining Taylor.

The Red Sox finished their 2026 slate at Fenway Park with a 41-39 record after sweeping Friday’s doubleheader. Boston also secured its first series victory since Sept. 15, finishing the season 24-26-2 in series play and 11-14-1 at home. The Red Sox won 18 of their final 30 series overall, including 10 of their final 16 at home dating to June 12.

With a nor’easter expected to impact New England this weekend, Major League Baseball moved Sunday’s finale to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The Red Sox and Cubs will fly to Florida following Friday’s doubleheader and play Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

Gasper Likely Out for Wild Card Series

Mickey Gasper will likely miss the Red Sox’ Wild Card Series against the Yankees after suffering a right biceps injury during Friday’s 4-3 win over the Cubs, according to MassLive’s Chris Smith.

The Red Sox officially termed the injury “right biceps discomfort.”

Gasper started behind the plate and appeared to injure his biceps while swinging through a pitch for a strikeout in the fifth inning. He was removed immediately, with Connor Wong replacing him at catcher to begin the sixth.

“I think he’s going over to get an MRI right now,” Tracy said after the game. “He’s in some pretty good discomfort. So I don’t know exactly what it is but he struck out on that last swing and had some discomfort in his biceps.”

Following the Game 2 win, Tracy told reporters that Gasper suffered a significant biceps injury. 

The timing is particularly unfortunate for Gasper, who had carved out a meaningful role in Boston’s lineup. The 30-year-old is batting .251 with 10 doubles, nine home runs and 24 RBI while making starts at catcher, first base and designated hitter.

Between Boston and Triple-A Worcester, Gasper has hit 19 home runs this season. His likely absence also creates another decision as the Red Sox construct their Wild Card roster.

Boston is expected to carry 14 position players and 12 pitchers against New York. Gasper’s injury could open a spot for Romy Gonzalez, Braiden Ward, Tsung-Che Cheng, or another player currently working out with the stay-ready group in Fort Myers.

Ward remains a possibility despite not being on the 40-man roster. Tracy has said multiple times recently that the Red Sox are open to carrying him as a postseason pinch-running weapon. Ward set Worcester’s single-season franchise record with 61 stolen bases this year.

The Red Sox open the best-of-three Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Game 2 is Wednesday, with Game 3, if necessary, scheduled for Thursday.

Contreras Remains Sidelined

Willson Contreras did not swing a bat again Friday as the Red Sox continue to give his injured right hand time to heal.

Contreras attempted to swing Wednesday but was unable to do so without pain. He returned to Fenway Park on Thursday hoping another day of treatment would make a difference, but encountered the same issue.

“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.

Contreras remained out of the lineup for both games of Friday’s doubleheader. With Saturday now an off day before Sunday’s regular-season finale, Boston can give him additional time to rest before Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday.

Tracy told reporters after Friday’s doubleheader that Contreras did not swing a bat during the day.

Playoff Buzz

Now that the Red Sox know they’re headed to the Bronx, the anticipation for another postseason chapter between Boston and New York can begin.

For Adley Rutschman, it will be his first taste of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry in October.

“You can definitely tell there’s just a different level of buzz with [Red Sox-Yankees], just with the atmosphere of the stadium and everything going on,” Rutschman said. “So definitely, it’s a little bit more elevated, and I’m sure in the playoffs, it’s going to be even more than that.”

The teams traded blows throughout the regular season, with the Yankees narrowly winning the season series, 7-6.

The rivalry’s biggest postseason chapters have traditionally come deeper in October, including the memorable ALCS meetings between the clubs in 2003 and 2004. This time, one of baseball’s signature rivalries will be renewed immediately, with the best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

For Tracy, who will be managing in the postseason for the first time, the significance of the matchup isn’t lost on him.

“I’ve been watching Red Sox-Yankees since I was a kid,” Tracy said. “It’s Red Sox-Yankees. It’s no secret as far as the rivalry that exists over the years, for a very long time. That’s obvious, to everybody. So I know there’s always a little extra when those two teams meet.”