Red Sox Eye 26-Man Dream Playoff Roster as 64-52 Surge Fuels Return Hopes

3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Aug 9

Boston, now 64-52 and looking playoff-bound, was projected to field a best-case 26-man postseason roster built around injured returnees Roman Anthony, Adley Rutschman, Curtis Mead and Garrett Crochet.
The proposed lineup puts Anthony in left, Rutschman at catcher and Mead at second, with Willson Contreras at first and Ceddanne Rafaela leading a deeper everyday group.
Roster pressure would squeeze out notable names: Trevor Story was left off the ideal squad, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Anthony Seigler were favored for bench spots based on earlier-season performance.
On the pitching side, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suárez and Payton Tolle headline the rotation, with Crochet projected as a multi-inning relief weapon behind closer Aroldis Chapman.
The projection hinges on health—getting Anthony, Rutschman and Mead back by October was described as realistic enough to envision, even if not better than a 50% chance.