It’s a scene Red Sox fans know too well: a late-season push clouded by injuries, the lineup card full of makeshift solutions, and the question hanging over every pregame press conference: When are the reinforcements coming? Alex Cora has managed clubs through plenty of August storms, but this year’s roster crunch feels especially tight. Every move is magnified, every at-bat measured against the standings.

The Sox aren’t chasing from the cellar; they’re in striking distance. Entering Saturday, Boston sat within a handful of games of a Wild Card spot, their run differential (+46) hinting at a club stronger than its record shows. Yet, the absence of steady contributors has tilted the balance. The team has gone just 10–12 in August, their bullpen ERA climbing to 4.75 while the offense sputtered against left-handed pitching (.239 average, 25th in MLB). Depth, or lack thereof, has been the story.

That’s why Saturday’s update carried so much weight. Cora revealed that Rob Refsnyder, Wilyer Abreu, and Justin Slaten, a trio combining for over $3.5 million in payroll value this year, are all set to return next week. “Refsnyder could be with us in Baltimore on Monday, Slaten will get another rehab outing in Worcester, and Abreu is feeling much better too,” Cora explained as per Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo.

Refsnyder, a reliable lefty-masher earning $1.85 million, has a .278 average with an .781 OPS against southpaws since 2022. Abreu, despite making near the league minimum, has already become a staple, posting a .356 on-base percentage this season while ranking top five among AL rookie outfielders in runs saved. Slaten, the rookie right-hander, has fanned 11.2 batters per nine with a 3.48 ERA, showing flashes of late-inning reliability.

For Boston, this isn’t just an injury update; it’s a blueprint for balance. Refsnyder slots in as the answer to the lineup’s left-handed struggles. Abreu’s defense shores up Fenway’s sprawling outfield. Slaten provides Cora with a bullpen arm capable of bridging innings before Kenley Jansen closes the door.

Fans felt the ripple instantly. Social feeds lit up with declarations of “NOW WE GO,” a sentiment that mirrors the clubhouse mood. The Sox know September doesn’t forgive thin rosters, and Cora understands how quickly an MLB season can swing with the right depth restored.

In a playoff race defined by inches, getting Abreu, Refsnyder, and Slaten back isn’t just good news; it’s survival. And this isn’t the only roster news that Alex Cora had to announce this week.

Red Sox Shift Buehler to the Bullpen

Walker Buehler’s locker still carries the aura of a front-line starter, but for now, his next warmup will come with a very different assignment. Alex Cora announced Friday (August 23, 2025) that the 31-year-old right-hander is being shifted to the bullpen “until further notice,” a decision that signals both urgency and opportunity as Boston pushes toward the playoffs. The timing is striking: Buehler was lined up to start Monday against Baltimore, but that slot will now go to someone else as the Red Sox reimagine their rotation.

Cora stressed that this move isn’t a punishment but a chance for Buehler to reset and simplify. “I still believe in him,” the manager said, underscoring his view that the two-time All-Star can thrive in shorter stints. The plan is to strip things down, pound the strike zone, reduce the pitch mix, and rebuild confidence one outing at a time. Whether Buehler works in single innings or multiple frames remains open-ended, but Cora’s belief is clear: the righty can still help Boston win games if he focuses on attacking hitters instead of nibbling.

Buehler didn’t dodge the reality of the demotion. He admitted his stuff has “sucked” this season, owning a 5.40 ERA and 22 starts that rarely resembled his Dodgers peak. Still, he framed the move as a team-first adjustment. “It’s probably the right thing for our group and gives me an opportunity to reset in some way,” he told reporters, adding that he’ll “try to embrace it for the next couple of months.” For a Red Sox club balancing urgency with hope, the bullpen version of Buehler could either be a late-season weapon or the final test of his one-year, $21 million bet on himself.