Thursday's Off Day Coming at a Good Time for Battered Sox

After wrapping up a stretch of 16 games in 16 days in the dog days of August, the Red Sox will assuredly savor a much-needed off day on Thursday. 

Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Dbacks in 10 innings left Boston at 8-8 over the two-plus week stretch with no days off. Thanks to their eye-popping 27-3 stretch from July 3-Aug. 7, the Red Sox still sit comfortably in the American League's No Wild Card with a 5 1/2 game lead. Just 35 games remain before the playoffs begin and Boston wants to try and heal up some of its nagging injuries to prep for the postseason.

Willson Contreras, arguably the team's MVP this season, has been battling left hamstring tightness for the past couple of weeks. Shockingly, Fenway Park fans booed Contreras in Wednesday's 10th inning when he didn't hustle down the first base line on a routine ground ball.

Also, the Sox have been without middle relievers Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock of late and it has taken a toll on an overworked bullpen. Boston is hopeful of getting both relievers back from their elbow injuries before the end of the season to make its bullpen whole again before the playoffs.