Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman will sit for a second straight game Wednesday against the Miami Marlins, a decision that has begun to stir unease among fans even as the club insists there is little to worry about.
The three-time All-Star, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the Aug. 4 trade deadline, hyperextended his right elbow on a hard swing Monday night and has been held out of the starting lineup ever since.
Interim manager Chad Tracy described the issue as minor irritation rather than a serious setback. After Rutschman took five at-bats in Monday’s series opener, Tracy said the club simply did not want to aggravate the elbow and chose rest as a precaution.
Connor Wong will catch again Wednesday behind starter Sonny Gray as Boston tries to complete a sweep in Miami.
The lineup features Nick Sogard at first, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right, Caleb Durbin at third, Mickey Gasper as the designated hitter, Andruw Monasterio at short, Jarren Duran in left, Anthony Seigler at second and Wong behind the plate.
The timing is awkward. Boston has an off day Thursday before opening a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Friday, a stretch that could shape the remainder of the season.
Having Rutschman available would give the Red Sox their best defensive option and a switch-hitting bat that, on paper, still carries All-Star pedigree. In practice, the former first overall pick has struggled to find rhythm since arriving in Boston.
He is hitting just .146 with one home run and four RBI in 12 games with the Red Sox. For the full season, including his time in Baltimore, he is batting .236 with nine homers and 51 RBI.
That modest production, combined with a lengthy injury history, is why some supporters have grown skeptical of the deadline deal. Rutschman was already on the injured list with wrist inflammation when the trade was completed, his third trip to the shelf in 2026.
Earlier in the year he dealt with an ankle issue and a concussion. Social media reactions Wednesday ranged from blunt disappointment over the return on prospects to speculation that an injured-list stint could follow if the elbow does not settle quickly.
Tracy has maintained there is no concern and that the extra rest, plus Thursday’s off day, should be enough to have Rutschman ready for the Yankees.
Whether that proves true will determine how the club’s biggest midseason acquisition is remembered in the weeks ahead. For now, Boston is asking its newest catcher to sit while the rest of the roster tries to keep the season’s momentum intact.
