BALTIMORE -- While Roman Anthony was out of the lineup for the fourth straight day on Saturday due to back tightness, his return appears imminent given his ramp-up to baseball activities.
“He’s going to hit today,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before his team’s 17-1 win over the Orioles. “We’ll see how it goes. He’s actually going to the cage. But he’s moving a lot better. Hopefully he’s available today after his progression and hopefully we get him in the lineup tomorrow. If not, then Monday.”
Given that Boston took a 9-17 record into Saturday action with a four-game losing streak, the fact that Anthony is nearing his return is significant.
With the Sox facing lefty Trevor Rogers on Saturday, Ceddanne Rafaela batted first -- Anthony’s usual spot -- while Jarren Duran played left field and Andruw Monasterio was deployed as the designated hitter.
The Red Sox have scored just six runs during the losing streak -- three of them on Friday night.
Anthony said this back ailment was different than the one that sidelined him for two games last August.
“This is more upper back,” Anthony said. “That upper left [scapula] of my back into my neck. Last time, it was more lower back. It’s the first time I've really kind of felt something like this. I'll be back out there soon.”
Through 22 games and 97 plate appearances, Anthony has slashed .225/.361/.325 with one homer and four RBIs.
When he returns, the Red Sox are hoping he can get closer to the impressive numbers of his rookie season, when he had a .292/.396/.463 slash line in 303 plate appearances.
Saturday marked the sixth time in Boston’s 27 games this season Anthony hasn’t been in the starting lineup. The other two games he missed were due to the team’s rotation at the OF/DH spot.