NEW YORK -- While the activations of Roman Anthony and Trevor Story appear to be imminent, the earliest it will happen is Sunday afternoon’s finale of the four-game series at Yankee Stadium, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy announced on Friday.
When Anthony and Story were both out of the lineup for Triple-A Worcester on Friday, speculation started that they could be Bronx-bound.
It turned out both players were just getting a scheduled day off from their Minor League rehab assignments.
Social media shifted into high gear a bit later when a post on X surfaced of Anthony driving away from Polar Park on Friday afternoon.
However, it turns out Anthony (right wrist/hand) and Story (sports hernia) will both be in the lineup for the WooSox on Saturday.
“Like we've been doing, we'll check in with them [Saturday] after playing and see where they're at physically and how they feel after that and re-assess,” said Tracy. “I think a lot of people have the perception that maybe we circled a date on the calendar. But when you're out for three and a half months, it's difficult to circle a date on the calendar.
“It's more about just continuing to walk through not only physically how they feel, but walk through like reps, timing all those things. So we'll keep talking to them and figure it out. Sunday's possible, but we'll see how they feel after Saturday.”
Worcester plays at home at 4:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, while the Red Sox have a day-night doubleheader (1:05/7:15) at Yankee Stadium.
One key player the Red Sox should get back on Saturday is ace setup man Garrett Whitlock, who has been on the 15-day IL since Aug. 13 (retroactive to Aug. 10) with right shoulder inflammation.
“Whitlock is likely [Saturday],” said Tracy. “He obviously threw a live [BP] the other day. If we [had] activated him today, we wouldn’t have thrown two out of three days right off an injury. So, not active today. Likely tomorrow, prior to one of the games. We'll figure that out.”
The Sox also returned catcher Adley Rutschman to the lineup after he missed the final two games in Miami with right elbow inflammation.
“He’s good. He went through hitting. He went through throwing. I put him in there with the expectation he could play, and then he was going to come in and hit and throw, which he did all those things early and felt good,” said Tracy. “So, we’ve got him back in the lineup. “
Red Sox Nation, however, is most preoccupied with the timing of Anthony and Story's returns, and the corresponding roster moves that will come with it.
Mickey Gasper, who DH’d on Friday, has been on fire of late. Nick Sogard has also made key contributions, while Anthony Seigler and Andruw Monasterio have had their share of good moments during Boston’s second-half surge.
“[The decisions are] difficult, obviously," said Tracy. "But at the same time, it's really important to try to look at it as a good problem to have. Not many people are complaining about getting good players back in September.
“And not many people in baseball complain about having depth. So whenever that decision comes, it’s going to be difficult trying to decide and having conversations with guys we have to option or send down. That’s the case even if it wasn’t September. But at the same time, getting healthy at this time of year is really important.”
Tuesday is Sept. 1, which is when Major League rosters will expand to 28. Veteran utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa has also been rehabbing in Worcester, and should be in play to return soon.