Six games into the new season, and the Boston Red Sox are at the bottom of the AL East standings, with a 1-5 record. Through their first five games, the team hit just .200 against opposing starters, who managed a 2.25 ERA against them. All of these were expected to get fixed, as the Red Sox were looking forward to the return of their .800 career OPS slugger. But the latest update from Alex Cora brings ominous news around the first baseman’s expected return this season.

Triston Casas was on the road to recovery from his left patellar tendon rupture in May 2025. The injury cut his last season short to only 29 games. Casas was 10 months into his approximately 1-year recovery when this latest setback occurred.

“Alex Cora tells the media that Triston Casas had a setback in the form of sore ribs, per @timbhealey. He’ll be shut down for a while. Wonder how much it relates to the 2024 injury,” wrote Tyler Milliken on X.

Per the Red Sox manager’s reported update, this may further delay Casas’ progress.

The last time Casas played a full season was in 2023. At the time, he batted .263 with 24 homers and 65 RBI in 132 games, posting a .857 OPS.

The 26-year-old has suffered from a rib injury earlier as well.

In 2024, he was limited to 63 games owing to a torn cartilage between his ribs and sternum. He suffered from the injury in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in April 2024, which initially placed him on the 10-day IL. But he ultimately returned in August that year.

However, it is unclear whether his latest issue, i.e., the sore ribs, is in any way related to Casas’ previous rib injury.

Casas has been on the recovery for quite some time, and as Tim Healey of the Boston Globe reported, he would be shut down for a while longer.

But there was a little positive update, too.

Talking about the knee injury, Cora reportedly noted that Casas was able to practice sliding near the end of Spring Training.

But he never provided a timeline for his return, stating that minor league games are not “imminent” for him at the moment. Yet that positive momentum has since been halted by this new setback.

The skipper had also mentioned, “Nothing related to the knee. He’s doing well, but this [sore rib] happened swinging, so we have to shut him down swinging-wise for I don’t know how long.”

Casas has a career slash line of .241/.348/.452 in 251 games with 45 home runs and 120 RBI. He served as the primary first baseman of the Red Sox. But currently, Willson Contreras has taken over his role at first base. He was supposed to be the proven right-handed power bat, balancing the team’s heavily left-handed lineup, and solidifying first base defense.

The Red Sox had acquired Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in December 2025.

In 2025, Contreras demonstrated elite performance at first base with +6 Outs Above Average, addressing the Red Sox’s need to improve infield defense. But that power is missing in 2026.

Contreras is standing at .436 OPS through his first six games with zero homers and just 1 RBI. He is batting at .150 (3-for-20) with 6 strikeouts.

The whole Red Sox offense has significantly underperformed, scoring only 11 runs across their first four games. The team is averaging only 2.83 runs per game and has struggled to hit with runners in scoring position.

But while Casas’ latest setback is a disappointment for the Red Sox, one of their veteran starters on the IL has shown progress.

Patrick Sandoval is ready for rehab

Patrick Sandoval is recovering from an internal brace surgery that he underwent in 2024. The Red Sox had signed Sandoval in December 2024 on a two-year, $18.25 million contract that runs through the 2026 season.

Boston would be looking forward to his return this season, as he missed the entire 2025.

The day before Opening Day, the Red Sox had placed Sandoval on the 15-day IL. Now, per Tim Healey on X, Sandoval will begin his rehab assignment on Sunday for the Double-A Portland.

“Patrick Sandoval will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Sunday, the Red Sox said,” wrote Healey.

Sandoval has posted a career ERA of 4.01 in 107 games across 536 innings. Once he returns, the Red Sox will have to figure out his place in the rotation.

Along with Sandoval, starter Kutter Crawford was also on the 15-day injured list. The right-hander is recovering from surgery on his wrist that he underwent in July. Crawford and Sandoval threw simulated games in Fort Myers on Monday.

While Sandoval will start his rehab, Cora reportedly said that Crawford might begin his rehab later this month. For now, he will have a deload week. Boston can option Crawford to Triple-A if he does not have an immediate roster spot following his return.