BALTIMORE -- While Friday marked the third straight day the Red Sox were without Roman Anthony due to back tightness, the outfielder is making progress and could be in the lineup at some point during this three-game series at Camden Yards that concludes on Sunday.
While he was mainly confined to the trainer’s room the previous couple of days, Anthony rode the exercise bike outside the clubhouse on Friday.
“Feeling better, moving better,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Hopefully at one point during the weekend he plays. We’re not gonna rush it, but it was a better day for him.”
Cora said the injury isn’t any worse than the team originally thought.
“Just got to make sure he’s good,” Cora said.
Jarren Duran again led off and played left field in Anthony’s absence, with Masataka Yoshida serving as the DH.
Anthony said this back ailment was different than the one that sidelined him for two games in August ‘25.
“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 a batting line of .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 batting line of .292/.396/.463 in 303 plate appearances.
This was the fifth time in Boston’s 26 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.