Ahead of Friday night’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals, the Boston Red Sox announced that outfielder Eli White was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right foot ligament injury. The move to place White on the injured list comes less than 48 hours after interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters that the 32-year-old was set to undergo imaging after getting his foot caught in a grate along the centerfield wall in Tuesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels. 

White has performed well in a recently elevated role after the team placed All-Star center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela on the injured list with a quad strain ahead of Sunday’s series finale in Baltimore. In six games in Rafaela’s stead, White was hitting .292/.292/.458/.750 while providing excellent defense in center field. 

White has been a surprise contributor after being acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for pitcher Tyler Uberstein. In 27 games serving as the team’s fourth outfielder, White has hit .271/.300/.379/.679 while giving Tracy a reliable defensive option at all three outfield positions. His defensive prowess, paired with 100th-percentile sprint speed, makes him an invaluable asset on a playoff roster, should he be able to return from the injured list in time. 

Utility man Anthony Seigler was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take White’s place on the active roster. 

Seigler returns to Boston just under two weeks after being optioned to Worcester when the team activated Trevor Story from the injured list on Aug. 30. The 27-year-old utility man became a fan favorite during Boston’s historic July run thanks in part to the incredible energy he plays the game with, paired with a hot stretch that saw him hit .351/.400/.541/.941 in his first 11 games after being recalled on June 20. 

Overall, Seigler is hitting .250/.331/.405/.736 with three home runs, 12 doubles, and 13 RBI in 48 games at the big-league level in 2026. Since being optioned, he has appeared in seven games for Worcester, where he went just 5-for-30 with a pair of doubles and four RBI.

Starter Tanner Houck is expected to make his second rehab appearance with Double-A Portland on Friday night as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery performed in August of 2025. Houck is expected to throw 40-45 pitches after throwing 20 in two-thirds of an inning on Tuesday night. 

Houck will be joined in Portland by All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras, who will make his first, and perhaps only, rehab appearance after landing on the injured list on Aug. 31 with a hamstring strain. 

Sonny Gray (17-4, 2.69 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite veteran right-hander Seth Lugo (6-8, 5.04 ERA) for Kansas City as the Sox and Royals kick off a three-game set from Fenway Park on Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:45 p.m. ET.