ST. PETERSBURG – As they head into the final 10 days of the regular season, the Red Sox are monitoring a plethora of injuries to key players.

Given that the Sox still hold firm possession of the second American League Wild Card spot and could clinch a berth as early as this weekend, the plan will be to operate conservatively in hopes of getting everyone healthy for the games that count the most.

Here is an update on where things stand with those key players.

First baseman
There was a big scare on Thursday night in Texas when the team’s most productive hitter this season was pelted on the top of his right hand with a pitch in the top of the eighth and immediately exited the game. Contreras said that in the moment, it felt like a fracture. Fortunately, X-rays taken at the ballpark were negative.

While interim manager Chad Tracy mentioned the possibility of follow-up imaging, there was none on Friday. Contreras didn’t have his hand taped and spent his share of time in the training room.

Where do things stand?

“Obviously, sore with some swelling,” Tracy said. “So nothing new other than just over the next couple of days, they'll work on treatment, on getting the swelling out, see if he can get grip strength back, and then we'll go from there. So just day to day.”

Could there still be additional scans?

“Not right now. Right now, with the initial one, they're optimistic,” said Tracy. “Just work on the swelling and see how he progresses over the next couple days, and then determine if they feel like they need more. But right now, they're just going to work on that.”

Closer
When Garrett Whitlock closed Thursday’s win in Texas, it was obvious something was up with Chapman. It turns out he has been dealing with lat tightness he sustained while working out prior to Tuesday’s game.

Chapman downplayed the injury on Friday, saying the team is being conservative and that he felt healthy enough to play catch before the opener of the three-game series against the Rays. The Red Sox told him not to.

The lefty fireballer said he won’t pitch this weekend, but he expects to return during the final homestand, which starts on Tuesday.

“I’m not worried at all,” Chapman said. “From the first time I felt it to today, I feel very good. I was going to go out and throw, but the team wants to take it slow, and they want me to take my time.“

It is all about being 100% for the first game of the playoffs on Sept. 29, right?

“Yeah, of course,” said Chapman. “A hundred percent.”

Center fielder
Boston’s All-Star center fielder hasn’t played since Sept. 2 due to a right quad strain. It sounds unlikely he’ll be able to play in a rehab game for Triple-A Worcester because that season ends on Sunday. But Tracy is confident with where Rafaela is at.

“I think he got close to 90% of his acceleration yesterday,” said Tracy. “So not ready yet, but he's moving quickly in the right direction, which is good. If he doesn’t play [for Worcester], there is a goal of getting him some live at-bats of some kind. You know, like live BP-type at-bats of some kind, plus the Trajekt. The important thing is that the running piece keeps going in the right direction.”

Left-hander
Boston’s ace, who has been out since April 25 due to a left shoulder injury, is still racing against the clock to try to pitch in relief during the postseason. His next step will be on Saturday, when he throws his second up-and-down bullpen session of the week at Fenway Park.

For Crochet to have any shot at pitching at the start of the postseason, he would have to start facing hitters by next week.

“I would say we're to the point where these next five days or so are going to be pretty telling,” said Tracy. “How does the side go, and what can we do with him early next week? And that'll give us a better idea of the answer to that question.”

Right-hander
The righty will make the fourth and final appearance of his Minor League rehab assignment when he throws roughly 50 pitches for Worcester on Saturday. It’s possible Houck will get a tuneup or two in regular-season action for the Red Sox next week, which could give the club a better gauge if he’s a possibility to pitch in the playoffs. Houck had Tommy John surgery 13 months ago.