Contreras (hand) concerned about availability for Wild Card Series

BOSTON -- On Thursday night -- exactly one week after he was hit on the knuckle between the ring finger and pinkie on his right hand -- Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras expressed concern about his availability for Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series next week.

Contreras was able to swing prior to the series opener against the Guardians. But there was too much inflammation for him to be able to repeat that exercise before the final two games of the series on Wednesday or Thursday.

The Red Sox will start their playoff run on Tuesday night, most likely at Yankee Stadium.

“I mean, it's really concerning,” said Contreras. “But at the same time, I'm putting all my effort -- and everything I can do, I'm doing it. I don't know what else to say. I’m working hard with the trainers, the hand is slowly getting better. But I haven’t been able to swing the last two days. I’ll be honest with the team. I know Tuesday is a really important game. It's a really important series, and I'll be completely honest with the team.”

Not having Contreras, Boston’s best power hitter, would be a big blow for the Red Sox. In his first season with Boston, he is having a career year, slashing .276/.387/.518 with 27 homers and 81 RBIs in 129 games.

The Red Sox still hold out hope that Contreras will get better as time passes.

“It’s subtle improvements, but still a little sore,” said Red Sox manager Chad Tracy. “So we're just still working through it, obviously with the goal of getting him back for the postseason. Trying really hard to get him in for [the final game of the regular season]. If there's one game remaining to get him in there, he typically finds his way pretty quick.”

Contreras is demoralized by the timing of the injury.

“It's frustrating, if I’m being honest,” said Contreras. “I was hoping to swing today, and I couldn't swing. I came into my locker just tearing up because that's what we play for. We play to play in October, and it's really frustrating when we're doing the best you can do and you're expecting to heal faster and that doesn't happen.”

Contreras did have follow-up imaging done on Wednesday to make sure a fracture hadn’t developed since the initial X-rays he had taken at Globe Life Field in Texas the night of the injury.

“Yeah, there's no fracture or anything,” said Contreras. “I had a CT scan yesterday just to make sure that I don't have any fracture, and it didn't show any fracture. At this point, still inflammation and a bone bruise.”

With a full four days before Tuesday, Contreras will try to have faith in his healing power.

“So Tuesday is a few days ahead from now,” Contreras said. “Again, I'm gonna come down here tomorrow and do everything I can do during the whole day to make it feel better. Hopefully, I can swing the bat tomorrow and Saturday and go from there. But like I said, I'm an honest guy, and if I don't feel confident in my hand to be able to play either Sunday or Tuesday, I'll be completely honest with the team.

“I don't want to hurt the team in any way. I know that the guys here have been playing every single day, and I respect that. If I don’t feel good, I don't want to take anybody's spot. That's my point. And the whole team is playing good, even though we lost tonight. The energy is still up. The guys can't wait for Tuesday, and I can't wait either. But we'll see what happens.”

Contreras just wishes the injury was to his left hand.

“When it hurts, it hurts. Especially when it's the top hand,” Contreras said. “If it was the bottom hand, I could swing with the right hand, but when it's the right hand, my right hand just feels weaker until I just let the bat go. It's not a good sign.

“Again, I'm doing everything that I can to come back and play with the boys and be there with the boys. But sometimes you have to listen to your body, and I'm listening to the trainers and doing everything that they ask me to do, and [it's] just one of those things that I can't control.”

What kind of treatment is Contreras getting? Pretty much any type you can think of.

“I mean, laser, shockwave, contrast, massaging, pills, everything,” said Contreras. “We’re doing everything in our power to get back on the field.”

If Contreras can’t go, they could go with Mickey Gasper or Nick Sogard at first base. Recalling Romy Gonzalez from Triple-A is another possibility.