Alex Bregman will be pivotal to the Boston Red Sox making a deep playoff run, but the October veteran may not begin the postseason at 100 percent.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday, per the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey, that Bregman is feeling under the weather. The third baseman traveled to New York away from the team after sitting out the final two games of the regular season.
However, Breslow expects Bregman to play Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. WEEI’s Rob Bradford posted a video of Bregman practicing at Yankee Stadium on Monday.
Bregman has made an indelible impact in his first season with the Red Sox. He posted his highest OPS (.821) since 2019 in 114 games, quickly inserting himself as a team leader on and off the field.
The 31-year-old also brings immense playoff experience to the Red Sox locker room. Bregman made eight straight postseason appearances with the Houston Astros, winning two World Series titles in four trips to the Fall Classic.
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The Astros advanced all three times they faced the Yankees in the playoffs during Bregman’s tenure. Yankees manager Aaron Boone discussed the familiar foe on Monday, courtesy of the YES Network.
“Watching him afar, it seems like he’s had a real positive impact on their team, their clubhouse, their culture,” Boone said. “You know he’s gonna handle himself at third, and he’s gonna be a tough out at the plate … He’s definitely an impact player for them.”
After batting .319/.421/.434 against left-handed pitchers this season, Bregman’s presence will especially be crucial with southpaw aces Max Fried and Carlos Rodón starting the first two games for New York. Game 1 begins Tuesday at 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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