Boston shuffled its outfield before Monday's A's opener, moving Jarren Duran to left and Nick Sogard to right after initially testing a reversed setup. Duran leads off for the first time in a few games, while Sogard sits in the eighth spot as the lineup otherwise stays in its original order. The move was sparked by a glut of injuries in the system and Refsnyder's day-to-day status, but manager Alex Cora insisted the swap was about optimizing defense and lineup balance rather than chasing a gimmick.

The Sox leaned into Duran's elite left-field defense and Rafaela's center-field upside, with Sogard, a switch-hitter, providing flexibility against A's righty Luis Morales. The final arrangement kept the core bats in place (Bregman at 2B, Story at SS, Lowe at 1B, Yoshida at DH, Rafaela in center, Narváez catching), while the outfield roles were adjusted to maximize the team’s upside in this three-game set.

For fantasy managers, the leadoff opportunity for Duran and the defensive reliability offered by Rafaela could unlock more runs and stolen-base potential in this series. Sogard's switch-hitting and position flexibility also raise his daily-spot viability, particularly in value-based lineups where salary relief matters. The injury situation and the lineup shuffle add a wrinkle to Boston's usual approach, but the path to production remains tied to run creation and defensive playmaking.

Nick Sogard delivered the game’s defining moment, pinch-hitting for Connor Wong and drilling a splitter into left-center for a two-run ninth-inning swing that vaulted Boston to a 7-4 comeback win in Arizona.

The Red Sox avoided a sweep and trimmed pennant-race gaps, underscoring how late-season call-ups can swing standings and fantasy value alike. Chapman’s ongoing hitless stretch remains a concern for saves managers, while Boston’s seventh-inning miscue and timely rallies illustrate volatility in close games.

D-backs speed and contact from Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno helped build early momentum, but Boston’s offense perked up with Yoshida leading off and Sogard’s heroics fueling the rally. The next three-game set in West Sacramento gives Boston a real-life and fantasy checkpoint as Crochet draws a start to open the series.

In all, this game blended big swings, breakout bench contributions, and bullpen whiffs—reminding fantasy managers to weigh late-season roles, pace-of-play shifts, and park factors as rosters tighten.

Roman Anthony lands on the injured list with a left oblique strain, placing the Red Sox in a tough spot as they chase a playoff berth. Nick Sogard is recalled to fill the vacancy. Anthony, 21, posted a .292/.396/.463 line with 8 homers and 4 steals in 71 games, fueling Boston’s surge. A four-to-six week recovery could wipe out the remainder of the regular season and possibly part of the postseason, heightening the pressure on BOS to compensate as they sit 78-62, 2.5 games behind Toronto and tied with the Yankees for the top wild-card spot.

Boston must weather the loss while navigating a tight AL East race, with Caesars odds underscoring the Jays’ division lead. The injury compounds a lineup already counting on Anthony’s dynamic contributions, and it will test Cora’s ability to shuffle infield and outfield responsibilities as the calendar turns toward September and potential October baseball.

Boston placed Roman Anthony on the injured list with left oblique tightness after Tuesday's win over Cleveland, signaling a 4-6 week recovery window per manager Alex Cora. Anthony, 21, had been delivering a promising .291/.861 with eight homers and 31 RBIs since his June call-up and recently signed an eight-year, $130 million extension. Nate Eaton will start in right and lead off Wednesday, while Nick Sogard was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to fill the roster gap. The injury reshapes BOS' outfield depth for the near term and nudges fantasy rosters toward Eaton's speed and Sogard's multi-positional flexibility as Anthony rehabs.

In the immediate term, Eaton's role could become a daily source of run-scoring and stolen-base upside while Anthony is sidelined, with Sogard providing depth as the roster adjusts. Anthony's long-term stock remains strong given the extension and his track record, but the oblique setback introduces a temporary obstacle for BOS's offensive ceiling. For fantasy managers, the takeaway is to monitor playing time shifts and the potential surge in Eaton's opportunities during the recovery window.