Red Sox Roman Anthony Out 4-6 Weeks with Oblique Strain

The Boston Red Sox just took a huge hit in their playoff chase. Rookie sensation Roman Anthony is out with an oblique strain.

Manager Alex Cora said the 21-year-old outfielder will miss four to six weeks. That pretty much ends his regular season.

Boston’s in a tight spot, fighting for ground in both the AL East and the wild-card race. There are only 22 games left, so the pressure’s on.

Roman Anthony’s Breakout Rookie Season Comes to an Abrupt Pause

Anthony’s rookie season really turned heads. Since June, he’s hit .292 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in just 71 games.

He’s delivered clutch hits and brought energy to the lineup. Honestly, he’s been one of Boston’s most reliable bats so far.

The Injury That Changed the Game

The injury happened during Tuesday’s 11-7 win over Cleveland. In the fourth, Anthony struck out and grabbed his lower back right away.

That’s never a good sign. An MRI later confirmed the oblique strain—worse than his earlier bout with mid-back tightness last month.

Oblique injuries are brutal for hitters. They mess with swing mechanics, power, and just plain comfort at the plate.

Cora didn’t sugarcoat it. He called the loss “significant” and said Anthony is “one of our best offensive players.”

Impact on the Red Sox Playoff Push

Boston’s got 22 games left and the margins are razor-thin. They’re 2.5 games behind the AL East-leading Blue Jays and tied with the Yankees for second.

Right now, they’re holding onto a wild-card spot, but it’s a day-by-day grind.

Replacing Anthony’s Production

Replacing Anthony’s bat won’t be easy. Cora keeps talking about adaptability and how the whole roster needs to step up.

Veterans, role players, maybe even a fresh face from the minors—everyone’s on notice.

Here’s where Anthony’s absence really stings:

• Middle-of-the-order power: His eight home runs and knack for driving in runs made him a threat every night.
• On-base consistency: That .292 average and solid plate discipline kept the lineup moving.
• Defensive reliability: His outfield play helped Boston’s run prevention, no question.

Recovery Timeline and Postseason Outlook

The timeline is four to six weeks for recovery. If things go well, Anthony could be back for the wild-card round.

That would be a massive boost—emotionally and tactically—heading into October. But let’s be real, oblique injuries linger, and coming back too soon just isn’t worth it.

Boston’s Season Hangs in the Balance

This injury ramps up the pressure on Boston’s final stretch. The Red Sox now face the challenge of staying competitive without Anthony’s bat in the lineup.

There are only a handful of series left. Several of those are against direct playoff rivals, so the margin for error is razor thin.

If Boston manages to grab a postseason spot without him, Anthony might return just in time for a spark. That would bring some much-needed energy and maybe a bit of chaos to October baseball.

In the meantime, Boston has to lean on its veterans, pitching staff, and—let’s be honest—a lot of adaptability. These next few weeks will really show how much grit this group has.

Losing one of their best offensive players stings. But in baseball, adversity is where you find out who’s actually ready to fight for it all.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony facing 4-6 week IL stint due to oblique strain