Boston's ascent remains tied to the health of Marcelo Mayer, the club's top prospect who has lingered on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist. An anti-inflammatory injection on August 2 and signs of baseball activity suggest a return could be imminent. If Mayer slides back into the lineup, Ceddanne Rafaela could move back to center field, potentially reshaping Boston's defensive and offensive balance as Mayer handles second base.

In June Mayer flashed a blend of power and contact, posting a .788 OPS over 21 games with 4 homers and 28 total bases. With the Red Sox four games behind Toronto for the AL East lead, Mayer's return could provide a meaningful boost for their postseason push, especially in a series opener against the Houston Astros where the lineup could take on added punch and depth.