Every Boston Red Sox fan held their breath on Sunday when Willson Contreras was plunked on the right hand by Tampa Bay Rays starter Nick Martinez, then removed from the game at the end of the first inning.
Contreras' X-rays were negative, but there are a lot of ways for an injured hand to affect one's swing without broken bones. The 17-23 Red Sox begin a series on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, and it's certainly no guarantee that their best hitter thus far will be in the lineup.
However, a good sign came in the form of MassLive insider Chris Cotillo's Monday report. As of Monday, there seemed to be at least a chance the 33-year-old could play in the series opener, though that would not likely be determined until after he had a chance to warm up hours before the game.
"As I understand it, Red Sox are still cautiously optimistic on Willson Contreras' hand injury and will re-assess when he arrives Tuesday," Cotillo wrote on X. "As of now, there's at least a chance he plays (Tuesday) against the Phillies. But it's a read-and-react thing."
Of course, the most recent data point we have on a Red Sox hand injury suggests that no optimistic first update is gospel. Star outfielder Roman Anthony was initially hopeful to avoid a stint on the injured list with the sprain he suffered on a swing last Monday against the Detroit Tigers, but he went on the IL just three days later.
All things considered, Contreras' injury is likely less of a long-term concern because it was sustained on impact, rather than an intramuscular thing that happened due to strain from a swing. But until we get the pregame update on Tuesday, the Red Sox will be left in something of a limbo state, which has unfortunately become far too common.