Red Sox Pregame Notes vs Royals: Roman Anthony (Back) Returns Tomorrow

Roman Anthony will return from back tightness that forced him out of the Red Sox lineup on Tuesday, Alex Cora said. Anthony looked comfortable taking swings at batting practice pre-game. He was available for a pinch hit opportunity on Tuesday, though Cora preferred to stay away from him.

“If I wanted to, he could’ve started, but I’ll stay away from him one more day,” Cora said.

Marcelo Mayer (wrist), who last played on July 23, also appeared on the field without a brace prior to the second game of the series between Boston and Kansas City. He told The Boston Globe that he opted for an anti-inflammatory shot rather than surgery to return as soon as possible. Mayer will not travel on the team’s upcoming road trip, calling his sprain a triangular fibrocartilage complex that he’s dealt with previously.

• The Red Sox designated RHP Jorge Alcala for assignment on Tuesday after allowing three runs, two home runs and nearly squandering an 8-1 lead late on Monday against Kansas City. They recalled RHP Isaiah Campbell from AAA Worcester.
• RHP Liam Hendriks (hip) and Cora cleared up the manager preemptively shutting down the reliever for the season earlier this week. Cora got ahead of himself, he said on Tuesday, and hopes Hendrik can pitch again. He’s been out since May 27 after missing all of his first season with Boston after undergoing Tommy John surgery in Chicago.
• LHP Garrett Crochet will not have more starts pushed back or scratched down the stretch, Cora said. They’ll utilize their remaining off days, including Thursday before heading to San Diego this weekend, to manage their starters, including Crochet and Lucas Giolito. Crochet had his weekend start pushed back to Tuesday in what Cora had described this week as a plan they had discussed throughout the year.
• Masataka Yoshida moved to left field from designated hitter for only the third time over the past two seasons with Ceddanne Rafaela getting an off day.