The Red Sox took the opener of Friday’s split doubleheader against the Cubs, 4-3 at Fenway Park, but the win came with a fresh September concern: Mickey Gasper left after hurting his right biceps on a fifth-inning strikeout.
Gasper swung through a Clay Holmes sweeper, then immediately began flexing his right arm. He underwent an MRI between games of the doubleheader, leaving Boston awaiting clarity on a player who had made a serious late push for a postseason role.
Gasper’s late surge meets an untimely setback
Manager Chad Tracy said Gasper felt the issue on the swing and was dealing with notable discomfort.
“He had some biceps discomfort on that swing,” Tracy said. “He’s going over for an MRI now, and there’s a fair amount of discomfort. We don’t know exactly what it is yet, but it happened on that final swing.”
The timing could hardly be worse. Gasper has supplied unexpected thump since Aug. 17, hitting 10 of his 12 career home runs across his last 33 games. In 106 plate appearances during that stretch, the 30-year-old has posted a 1.082 OPS.
That run had sparked a real question around the club: whether Gasper had played his way into the lineup against right-handed pitching in October. Now his availability is in doubt as Boston prepares for the postseason.
Catching depth also under pressure
Gasper’s injury carries extra weight because Willson Contreras remains uncertain for the postseason after injuring his right hand on Sept. 24. Gasper’s ability to catch made him a possible alternative if Contreras could not return in time.
Instead, the Red Sox may be waiting on two players at once.
“Whenever injuries are involved, there’s uncertainty,” Tracy said. “We’re obviously hoping to get Contreras back, but it does create uncertainty. Still, as we’ve done all year, whatever the situation ends up being, we plan to go out and play good baseball.”
For Gasper, the concern interrupts one of the warmer stories on Boston’s roster. He spent portions of eight seasons in the Minor Leagues before finding this late-season breakthrough. The Red Sox will now need the MRI results to determine whether that ride can continue into October.
