Willson Contreras has not played since Sept. 17, when he was hit in the hand by a pitch.
The good news is that he is not dealing with any kind of fracture. However, the pain in his hand has kept him out of games and from swinging comfortably. On Thursday, Contreras revealed that he still cannot swing without pain in his right hand, and he is unsure if he will be available for the Red Sox's first postseason series.
"I'm an honest guy, and if I don't feel confidence in my hand to be able to play either Sunday or Tuesday, I'll be completely honest with the team," Contreras said on Thursday, according to The Boston Globe's Tim Healey. "I don't want to hurt the team in any way ... If I don’t feel good, I don't want to take anybody's spot."
The Red Sox don't have much time to figure out whether Contreras can play in the first round of the postseason. It's safe to assume that if he feels good, he will be playing when the Red Sox head to the Bronx next week. However, if Contreras is still hurting, Nick Sogard will likely start at first base.
Another option at first base is Curtis Mead, if the Red Sox prefer Sogard at second base.
Whether it's Mead, Contreras or Sogard at first base, the Red Sox will have to find a way to hit better than they have in the last few weeks. They have struggled with runners in scoring position, and their woes have come at the worst possible time.