Roman Anthony’s Injury Marrs Red Sox Season As ESPN Raises Question On Rafael Devers Trade

The Boston Red Sox are caught between what could have been and what might still be. They currently hold second place in the AL Wild Card standings with a record of 86-71, trailing the Yankees by three games, who lead at 89-68. Roman Anthony’s brilliant rookie season abruptly ended in early September, while Rafael Devers remains in San Francisco following a trade that grows more controversial by the day. These two storylines—Anthony’s injury and the Devers trade—have become the defining narratives of a season with loftier expectations.

The Red Sox continue to reel from the ripple effects of Anthony’s injury. The rookie was hitting .292 with a .396 on-base percentage through 71 games, injecting energy at the top of a lineup that has struggled for consistency. The numbers tell a sobering story: Boston is 8-9 without its young star, a troubling trend. The Rafael Devers trade is still bothering the team.

ESPN Insider David Schoenfield said, “The Rafael Devers trade will look even more controversial if the Red Sox do miss the playoffs, considering he had a 151 OPS+ at the time of the trade.” Schoenfield has asked if this move will make the season a failure if the Red Sox don’t make the playoffs.

Schoenfield also highlighted how Anthony’s injury could not have come at a worse moment for a team already on the edge. In those 71 games, Anthony hit eight home runs, drove in 32 runs, scored 48 times, and amassed 18 doubles. His absence coincides with a lackluster .385 team record when he’s off the field. Schoenfield warned, “This probably turns into an ‘F’ in the hearts of Red Sox Nation” if postseason hopes are dashed.

The ESPN analyst expressed frustration that the Red Sox should already be postseason-bound despite standout performances from Garrett Crochet near a Cy Young-level season, 4-WAR campaigns from Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafael, and Trevor Story, and dominant relief work from Aroldis Chapman. According to Schoenfield, their last home series against Detroit will prove critical for playoff qualification.

Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow provided an update on Anthony’s ongoing recovery, describing it as slower than expected. “Being around him a little bit, you can see he’s getting more comfortable,” Breslow said, as reported by MassLive’s Chris Smith. “When it first happened, you could look at him and tell that he was in quite a bit of discomfort and pain. That has subsided, but there’s still quite a bit of room to get to in terms of baseball activities.”

The Boston Red Sox cannot afford to wait much longer, even as Anthony remains sidelined with no clear return date. The team must lean on the players still available on the roster as postseason play approaches rapidly.

Red Sox Push Closer to October Despite Anthony’s Absence

Anthony is still in recovery, but his teammates delivered on Tuesday night. Boston defeated Toronto 4-1 at Fenway Park, narrowing the playoff gap. This victory gave the Red Sox essential breathing room, especially with Detroit closing in.

Lucas Giolito led the pitching effort, battling through 4.2 innings while allowing just one run and three hits. He walked four but struck out three to keep Toronto’s offense contained. Justin Wilson followed with 1.1 effective innings, securing his fourth win and preserving Boston’s playoff hopes.

Boston’s offense shone when it mattered most. Nathaniel Lowe went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, while Carlos Narváez’s two-run double provided the game-winning blow that electrified Fenway. In just his second game back from injury, Wilyer Abreu hit a double, and Masataka Yoshida recorded two hits, including a double.

Garret Whitlock, Justin Slaten, and Aroldis Chapman locked down the late innings, closing out a stellar bullpen performance. Chapman earned his 32nd save of the season, firmly keeping Boston in second place in the wild card race—one game ahead of Detroit and two ahead of Houston. The team’s magic number now stands at three.