The Red Sox may be ahead of the Yankees in the standings, but their position is far from secure. With a 68-57 record, Boston holds just a one-game edge over their rivals — a margin that feels slimmer by the day as the injury list keeps growing. The latest setbacks include a key everyday regular and a promising rookie, both bound for the IL, further thinning an already fragile roster.
What’s turning heads, though, is how the Red Sox CBO, Craig Breslow, plans to steady the ship: by reaching down to the Minors for Boston’s so-called crisis manager, Nate Eaton! Yes, the man from Worcester, who frequently heads to the Red Sox once a crisis arrives. Remember the time when Alex Bregman was out with a right quad injury? Eaton was the man who sailed the ship forward that time, hitting .250 and stealing 3 bases.
But this time? The Red Sox got multiple crises: Wilyer Abreu and Marcelo Mayer! “Marcelo Mayer’s rookie season comes to an end,” Talkin’ Baseball reported the breaking news about the Red Sox’s rookie sensation.
Marcelo Mayer’s rookie season comes to an end pic.twitter.com/24ChNp06K1
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 17, 2025
Reportedly, Mayer will undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist in the coming days. He was diagnosed with an injury to the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex. And now, recovery is expected to take approximately three months, and Mayer will likely be fully ready for Spring Training.
The injury occurred on July 23 in Philadelphia, when Mayer experienced discomfort while swinging during the Red Sox’s 9-8 win. While he was removed from the game, it turned out to be his final appearance of the season. So, this year, the 22-year-old finishes his first Major League campaign with a .228/.272/.402 slash line, 4 HRs, and 10 RBIs!
Furthermore, Boston outfielder Wilyer Abreu left Sunday’s game with right calf tightness after hitting a two-run HR. He is now expected to miss the upcoming two-game series against Baltimore beginning Monday. But he is not likely to require a stint on the injured list.
And amid all the chaos, Eaton is expected again to manage the crisis moment for the Red Sox. He was there with the team till early July, but optioned again to the Minors after activating Masataka Yoshida from the 60-day injured list. So, it took no time again for the Red Sox to take a U-turn and call back the man again!
Injury is taking the shape of a crisis for the Red Sox
It starts to look like the injuries are becoming a great task to deal with for the Red Sox front office. Apart from Marcelo Mayer and Wilyer Abreu, the team lost Kutter Crawford for this year. Then there are Hunter Dobbins, Liam Hendricks, and Triston Casas, and it goes on…
Entering Sunday, the Red Sox had an 88.2% probability of entering the postseason this year, according to Fangraphs. However, with the continuous trend of active players getting sidelined, it would take no time for the Red Sox to blow up the opportunity.
However, the upcoming schedule could just be what the Red Sox expect to make way to the Playoffs.
Reportedly, over the final six weeks of the season, Boston will play 24 of its remaining 40 games against opponents with losing records. That stretch includes two series apiece against the last-place Orioles and Athletics. And also matchups against the Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Rays. Hence, in the immediate term, the Red Sox have an opportunity to gain ground, with four of their next five series coming against sub-.500 teams.
Now, tapping the opportunity is subject to the availability of the top performers for the Red Sox. And if this injury trend continues, we might see a few more callups for Eaton this season.
The post Red Sox Rocked by Rookie Sensation’s Season-Ender as Breslow Forced Into Roster U-Turn Amid Injury Crisis appeared first on EssentiallySports.