The Boston Red Sox acquired Curtis Mead at the trade deadline, but he fractured his wrist in his first game with the team.
Mead avoided surgery, but he is in a race against the clock if he wants to return this season. Mead has been progressing toward a return and is planning to take a major step on Friday.
"Curtis Mead (left wrist fracture) plans to take another step forward Friday by taking batting practice off of a machine," reported The Boston Globe's Tim Healey. "He will head to Fort Myers with Crochet and potentially hit against him on Saturday, he said. He is not ruled out for the first round of the playoffs beginning Tuesday, but that deadline might be too soon."
Mead was having a career year before his injury, and getting that version of him in the lineup could be huge for the Red Sox's offense. However, if he's not at 100%, it may not be the best idea for the Red Sox to stick him in the lineup at second base in the most important series of the year.
Mead was slashing .253/.353/.498 with 17 home runs before he went down. The Red Sox's options at second base in the postseason include Andruw Monasterio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Nick Sogard. However, if Willson Contreras is unable to play due to his hand injury, Sogard will likely draw the starts at first base.
If Contreras can't play, Mead's presence in the lineup may become more important. The Red Sox's offense has been scuffling lately, and Mead could provide a boost in October.