Alex Cora has been doing his best to keep the Boston Red Sox afloat in the AL East. Prior to facing the Philadelphia Phillies, they were at an even .500 record. They have also split their win-loss record in the last 10 games. So, is there anything that’s set to change for this squad as they try to catch up to the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees? What about the status of guys like Tyler O’Neill, Wilyer Abreu, Tristan Casas, Masataka Yoshida, and Chris Martin?
Big moves before the Phillies series
Alex Cora looks like he is making fresh rotational calls after they split the series with the Chicago White Sox. For starters, Tyler O’Neill is going to be back for their series against the Phillies. The Red Sox are going to have him as their DH such that he eases back into the rotation after he suffered soreness in his right knee, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. So, this means that he could be going back into the outfield quite soon.
As a consequence of this Tyler O’Neill move, the Red Sox are also calling Matsaka Yoshida back from the IL. He is usually Alex Cora’s DH. But, the choice to get O’Neill back into the groove made it so that Matsaka Yoshida will have to give that spot up. This is only for the in the meantime. The Red Sox manager did outline that Yoshida is likely going to take over the DH spot at some time in this Phillies series or after it. However, they did make the bold call to not let him play as an outfielder just yet.
The biggest update is Wilyer Abreu’s injury. Notably, Cora declared that the rookie might be able to come off the 10-day IL. But, there is still not much certainty of that happening. The doors are still open for Wilyer Abreu’s return during this Phillies series or his return could come at a later date when the Red Sox face the Yankees. Cora even dropped some praise for Abreu due to his fast-paced recovery…