RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 4: Adley Rutschman #31 of the Boston Red Sox arrives to the home clubhouse before a game against the Chicago White Sox on August 4, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Adley Rutschman is playing baseball! Unfortunately he’s doing it in Worcester, not Boston. Still, it was nice to see him behind the plate for five innings, during which he went 1-2 for two walks and threw out a runner. It was also nice for him, given that he played in front of both his father and the family that hosted him during his season playing in the Cape league. “He was great to have. It was exciting, he was coming off being in the College World Series at Oregon State,” said his former host Bill Matta. “He’d play with my boys — they played wiffle ball, they’d go for ice cream. And then we’d watch him play.” (Matty Wasserman, Boston Globe)
Speaking of rehab, Marcelo Mayer hopes to finish his rehab soon and make his debut with the Giants. He doesn’t sound too upset about being shipped west. “It’s been, like, six months since I had a burger from In-N-Out, so had to go back,” he said. “That’s usually the first thing I do when I get home in the offseason. So I was able to get one two months early.” (Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic)
Rutschamn didn’t need to be worried about being booed by the fans in Worcester. But apparently Willson Contreras did need to worry about it at Fenway. In his first game after returning from an illness, Sox fans booed the team’s best player after he didn’t run out a grounder to lead off the eighth. Chad Tracy didn’t take isssue with his play, though. “I know how that looks,” he said. “But I’m also aware, more than others, that he’s a little beat up and told us before the game, ‘I don’t have everything today.’ So I’m fine. Especially with a guy that plays the game as hard as he does, and how hard he turns around first base all the time. I’m fine with him.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Contreras returned just in time to anchor the middle of the lineup on a day when Wilyer Abreu wasn’t able to, after he suffered some swelling as a result of hitting a foul ball off his leg on Friday. But he’s expected to be back in the lineup this afternoon. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Someone who won’t be back, though, is Raymond Burgos. Burgos had the unusual honor of pitching three innings in two consecutive games, as he saved the bullpen during yesterday’s loss. He’s been optioned back to Worcester, with Seth Martinez taking his spot. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Burgos played his part in the Red Sox historic streak. Just how historic was it? Here’s a look at the numbers. (Sarah Langs, MLB.com)
But despite the Red Sox playing better than just about any other team in the history of baseball over the past six weeks, they haven’t won over all the skeptics:
"I'm going to stick with my notion that they do not make the playoffs." @robparkerMLBbro gives his take on the Red Sox. pic.twitter.com/HcuPjaGqiT
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) August 7, 2026
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