Early dazzled in his MLB debut, striking out 11 over five innings to tie a Red Sox record. He navigated jams and flashed a fastball-slider mix that left Oakland off balance, capping a dominant first big-league outing.

Boston chased Springs early, with Romy Gonzalez's leadoff homer and Rob Refsnyder's 463-foot shot fueling a 4-0 first. The win sharpens Boston's rotation plans, while fantasy managers should stash Early and monitor Kyle Harrison's status; Refsnyder's bat remains a trustworthy asset in a strong BOS lineup.

Roman Anthony landed on the injured list with a grade two oblique strain after a clash with Cleveland, and he won’t put a timetable on his return while aiming to come back ASAP. Boston’s skipper projects four to six weeks, with a potential playoff-specific rush, letting Anthony rejoin at about 60% power if the team is in a favorable spot. In the interim, Rob Refsnyder and Masataka Yoshida step into bigger roles, and Wilyer Abreu’s health looms large for the lineup depth.

The Red Sox will lean on veteran timing and depth, and a recent MRI note could steer decisions as they chase a postseason push. Alex Bregman’s return pace is used as a parallel, underscoring how management weighs risk versus reward for a star, especially when a playoff berth is within reach. Trevor Story’s presence also colors the conversation around Boston’s short- and long-term plans.