Boston Red Sox

What was initially described as a minor lat strain has turned out to be "a lot worse" than the Red Sox originally indicated. Crochet has been out since April 26. A 2026 return is increasingly unlikely. Fantasy managers have been holding long enough — the roster spot is better used.

Everyday shortstop while Trevor Story is out, with no clear timetable for Story's return. The July line wasn't a fluky BABIP run — his OBP and doubles rate hold up. Must-add in 14+ leagues, especially in points formats.

Started vs Athletics (6W-6L, 3.30 ERA)

Earned his first career save in a multi-inning relief outing against Chicago, logging three clean frames. The Red Sox are weighing whether to return him to the rotation; until that decision is made, he is in the mix for long save situations in blowouts.

Started vs Chicago White Sox (13W-2L, 2.93 ERA)

Started @ Los Angeles Dodgers (6W-4L, 2.74 ERA)

Durbin was already an interesting multi-category play before today's news; with Mead now on the IL for six weeks, he figures to see more plate appearances in Boston's infield mix. His June hot streak (.326, 6 HR, 5 SB in 25 games) showed what the floor can look like when he's locked in. The overall .229 average reflects a rough start to the year, but his stolen base upside and eligibility at both middle infield spots make him worth a roster spot in 14-team leagues, especially with the Red Sox likely to lean on him until they acquire another bat.

Non-displaced left wrist fracture sustained when hit by a pitch in his first Red Sox game (July 28). Initial X-rays negative; subsequent imaging confirmed the fracture. No surgery expected. Red Sox are giving him a tentative 6-8 week recovery window, which puts a best-case return at mid-September — with late September or early October (fantasy playoffs) more realistic.

Kelly was placed on the 60-day IL on July 21 with a stress reaction in his right elbow. The Red Sox have not provided a specific return timeline but indicated return is no earlier than late September, effectively ending his 2026 fantasy season. Kelly had been pitching in high-leverage situations out of Boston's bullpen before the injury.

Started vs BAL (4W-3L, 3.15 ERA)

Locked in as Boston's closer with a 2.20 ERA and no internal competition. The watch is purely trade-motivated — Red Sox are sellers and Chapman (~90% deal odds) is almost certainly changing addresses before August 3. If he lands with a team that already has a closer, the role evaporates. Watch the deadline wires closely.

Locked in as Boston's closer (2.20 ERA, 100 mph) with no internal competition. The watch is purely trade-driven: ~90% deal odds heading into August 3. Landing on the Dodgers, Yankees, or White Sox preserves or improves his fantasy value. Risk is ending up somewhere with an established closer already in place.

Locked in as Boston's closer (2.20 ERA, 100 mph) but trade odds peg him at ~90% to be dealt before August 3. Landing on a buyer — Dodgers, Yankees, White Sox — would likely preserve or improve his fantasy value. The uncertainty is where he lands, not whether the role continues.

Boston's starting third baseman has caught fire over the last month. The slash line is real — he's posting five steals in a Red Sox lineup that just went on a 9-game win streak and enters the second half with momentum. Speed and runs are the primary fantasy value. Grab him in 14+ team leagues before the surge catches on.

Bennett is doing something that shouldn't work: posting sub-3.00 ratios with no dominant individual pitch. The secret is a wacky mid-80s changeup with 12 inches of horizontal break and a 39% chase rate outside the zone, deployed from a deceptive three-quarters slot. He just threw seven shutout innings against the White Sox and is 4-3 with a 24.1% strikeout rate. Grab him before the second half if he's under 40% in your league.

Left adductor strain suffered July 5 vs. the Angels. IL retroactive to July 7; targeting a July 21 return vs. Baltimore. He was 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 17 starts — his first season in Boston after signing a $130M deal. Will miss the All-Star Game.

Still closing effectively (2.36 ERA, 18 saves) but the last-place Red Sox are a strong trade deadline candidate per multiple reports. He'll close until dealt, but a new team likely uses him differently. Explore selling now while his value is high.

Making his 2026 debut today after missing all of last season with Tommy John complications. Before his injury he was a reliable mid-rotation arm known for excellent command and a plus changeup. If the velocity bounced back in rehab, he's a genuine second-half sleeper. Add him while ownership is in the low teens — the speculative upside is worth the roster spot in 15+ team leagues.

Still an All-Star (2.36 ERA, 18 saves) but the last-place Red Sox are 90% likely to trade him before the August 3 deadline per ESPN's Passan. He'll close until dealt, but a new team likely uses him differently. Explore a trade now.

Bennett was traded to Boston from the Cubs' system last December for righty prospect Luis Perales, and the return is looking lopsided in Craig Breslow's favor. After a promising first stint (0.86 ERA in 21 IP), he was optioned to Worcester for bullpen flexibility and came back a better pitcher: four-seam fastball usage jumped from 29% to 40%, the pitch now plays at the top of the zone with more arm-side run, and opponents have to respect the heat to set up the mid-80s changeup. The contact profile tells the story — 53.4% groundball rate, 3.8% BB rate, and 87.4 mph average exit velocity allowed. At 25% ownership he's the most underpriced SP on the wire heading into the All-Star stretch.

Early exited a July 1 start against the Nationals after four scoreless innings with left elbow discomfort. An MRI revealed posterior elbow inflammation with no structural damage; Early himself called it minimally concerning. He is eligible to return around the All-Star break, making this a probable minimum-stay situation. Jake Bennett is the rotation replacement and has performed well in his own right.

The Red Sox rookie has a 3.27 ERA and 1.06 WHIP on the surface, but his underlying metrics tell a better story: 2.64 xERA (94th percentile), 55.2% ground-ball rate (94th percentile), and a 5.4% walk rate. With Connelly Early now on the IL, Bennett steps into a clear rotation spot with no competition, and Fenway's second half is historically pitcher-friendly once the summer heat sets in. The strikeout rate (19.4%) is below average and limits his ceiling in K-heavy formats, but in ratio leagues he's significantly underpriced at 30% ownership. Add before the regression pushes his ERA toward those underlying numbers.

Durbin has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the past two weeks — .422 average with the rare power-speed combination at only 30% owned. Multi-position eligibility at 2B and 3B is a bonus. Available in 70% of Yahoo leagues while producing at this level; add before the weekend waiver columns make him obvious.

Whitlock earned his first save of the season Monday when Aroldis Chapman was unavailable after consecutive appearances. Chapman remains the Red Sox's primary closer and is an elite performer — but he is a prominent trade deadline candidate, and if Boston sells, Whitlock inherits the role immediately. Roster in 14+ team leagues as a speculative Chapman-trade play; in standard formats, keep a close eye on Boston's deadline activity in the next two weeks.

Bennett stepped into Boston's rotation when Brayan Bello was demoted and has delivered five straight quality starts, capped by a dominant shutout at Coors — one of baseball's hardest parks to post a goose egg. His 56.4% groundball rate is elite, his 40.3% chase rate limits walks while generating weak contact, and a 12.2% swinging-strike rate suggests more strikeouts are coming as he settles in. Available in 65% of leagues — add in all formats with a week of favorable matchups ahead.