The Boston Red Sox were swept at Fenway Park this week by the New York Yankees, dropping to 9-16 and extending one of the more difficult stretches of their early season. Payton Tolle gave them everything they could have asked for in his season debut Thursday night, punching out 11 Yankees hitters across six innings and keeping the game competitive. The bullpen could not hold it.
The loss was compounded by an absence that has now stretched into a second straight game.
Roman Anthony did not play Thursday. Here is the latest on his status ahead of the road trip.
Cora Gives Key Anthony Update
Manager Alex Cora confirmed after the Yankees sweep that Anthony remains day-to-day.
“He’s feeling better but not great, so still day-to-day,” Cora said.
Anthony’s injury is centered in the upper back, around the scapula and into the neck, and has kept Anthony out since Tuesday. It surfaced when he swung and felt something in his back during Tuesday’s game. The discomfort had settled in overnight and he was not right the following morning, and the Red Sox have kept him out since.
Anthony addressed the situation directly himself.
“We’ve been taking care of it in the training room and I’m doing everything I can to get back out there…Just a weird thing that happened on a swing,” Anthony said.
GettyBOSTON, MA – APRIL 8: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox at bat against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Fenway Park on April 8, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
A Difficult Week for Boston
The sweep completed a punishing home stand against New York. The Red Sox managed just three runs and 13 hits across three games against the Yankees, a lineup that never found any rhythm at the plate.
Tolle’s performance Thursday was a genuine bright spot, but the bullpen surrendered a 2-1 lead in the seventh and the offense could not respond.
Boston has now lost five of their last six games. The road trip to Baltimore and Toronto arrives at a moment when the Red Sox need to find something offensively, and doing it without one of their most important bats makes the task harder.
GettyBOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Pitcher Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after strinking out Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees with the bases loaded to end the fourth inning at Fenway Park on April 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
What the Red Sox Are Losing
The timing is particularly frustrating given where Anthony’s game had been heading.
In the seven games before the injury, he batted .318 with a .516 on-base percentage, drawing eight walks against six strikeouts in that stretch. The underlying numbers pointed toward a player finding his rhythm at the plate.
His season figures still carry real promise. Anthony is hitting .225 with a .361 on-base percentage across 22 games, and Cora has been consistent in pointing to his patience and plate discipline as genuine strengths. The hits have not always been there. The approach has.
GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 06: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox sits in the dugout after an 8-6 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park on April 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Red Sox
Anthony is not expecting this to linger. The Red Sox are not taking chances given what happened last season, and that is the right call.
The issue is not considered serious and there is no structural concern attached to it. The return should come within days.
The sooner Anthony is back in the lineup, the better the Red Sox’ chances are on this pivotal road trip.
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