ST. PETERSBURG — After missing eight games, Willson Contreras returned to the Red Sox’s lineup, batting third and serving as designated hitter against the Cubs in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Tropicana Field.
It opened the possibility that Contreras, who was hit on the right hand by a pitch on Sept. 17 at Texas, will be active for the American League Wild Card Series, which begins Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Game 162 was moved from Boston’s Fenway Park to the Trop, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, as a precaution when a weekend nor’easter battered the East Coast with torrential rain and heavy winds.
The return of Contreras, who was batting .276 with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs before his injury, was greeted enthusiastically by manager Chad Tracy and his Red Sox teammates.
“Huge … massive," Tracy said of Contreras’ potential postseason availability. “Even with a layoff, with a guy like that, you know what he’s capable of doing with one swing of the bat. It’s pretty well documented. That’s so much what the postseason is about, these big moments where one swing can change a game. So that power and that presence in the middle of the order is important."
Postseason Guide
• Current bracket, tiebreakers and more
• Clinch scenarios: AL West | Final NL WC
• Every team that's clinched so far
• Postseason schedule
• FAQ: Tiebreaker rules | Postseason format
Tracy said Contreras made “pretty significant" improvement and looked impressive in batting practice Saturday, when the Red Sox conducted an optional workout at the Trop during an off-day.
“That was a huge step," Tracy said. “So we’ll get him some live at-bats in a game, and hopefully we’re good to go."
Third baseman Caleb Durbin said Contreras’ return provided energy in the Red Sox clubhouse.
“We’ve been without Willson and Rafa [Ceddanne Rafaela, who missed 17 games with a right quad strain] for a while," Durbin said. “We know what having those guys in the postseason could mean. We’re a different team [with them].
“I think we all feed off [Contreras’] energy. Just having him around and activated is big for us. He’s a big leader. Having that type of experience and energy, with him laying it on the line every single time he’s out there, it will add a lot to the playoff environment. We’re excited to have them back for this level of meaningful baseball."
Along with Contreras’ return, the Red Sox lost a couple of key performers to the injured list. Catcher/first baseman Mickey Gasper was placed on the 10-day IL with a right biceps strain, while right-handed reliever Tyron Guerrero was placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain.
Gasper was injured during Friday’s Red Sox-Cubs doubleheader at Fenway, so Tracy expected a move. Guerrero’s injury was more surprising as he felt “discomfort" during a recent tuneup session.
Gasper batted .251 with 10 homers, 24 RBIs and an .823 OPS in 67 games. Guerrero (a 3.10 ERA in 40 appearances) already had missed most of September because of shoulder inflammation.
The Red Sox recalled infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton and right-handed pitcher Wyatt Olds. Tracy said the organization is still debating how to structure Boston’s postseason roster, but he added that Eaton brings value as an extra outfielder because of his speed and defense.
Another option could be ace left-hander Garrett Crochet, who hasn’t pitched for the Red Sox since April 25 but could return as a reliever. Tracy said Crochet did well during Saturday’s live batting practice session in Fort Myers, Fla. Crochet will likely join Boston in New York, but it’s not yet certain he will be on the postseason roster.