Red Sox get concerning Willson Contreras update on playoff availability

The Boston Red Sox have clinched a postseason spot and will be playing the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card round as the road team.

This Red Sox team is red-hot entering the postseason, but they might not be operating at full strength when the playoffs begin.

According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Willson Contreras is reportedly looking doubtful for the playoffs due to his injury, as he is unable to swing without pain.

Willson Contreras questionable at best for playoffs amid injury issue

"Willson Contreras just cast significant doubt on his availability for the playoffs, saying he wasn't able to swing today without pain," Cotillo reports.

This is a brutal update for the Red Sox and Contreras, as the All-Star first baseman is looking doubtful for the playoffs due to his hand issue.

So long as he can't swing without feeling pain, it's going to be hard to imagine Contreras suiting up for the Red Sox. Barring a change, it's looking likely he'll miss the Wild Card round.

This season, his first with the Red Sox, Contreras has a .276 batting average with 27 home runs, 81 RBIs, 21 doubles, three triples, and a .905 OPS.

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He's the best hitter on the Red Sox this season, and they're looking like they will have to play without him, at least for the Wild Card round, barring a change.

Mickey Gasper, Nick Sogard, Andruw Monasterio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, or Connor Wong could take his place, though Sogard is the one most likely to take on first base responsibilities in Contreras' absence.

This is an unfortunate situation for the Red Sox and Contreras, as being without the All-Star slugger for the Wild Card round, which is looking like a very real possibility, would be quite the blow for Boston this October.

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