Ahead of Tuesday night’s series opener in Chicago, the Boston Red Sox got their third All-Star representative, as Major League Baseball announced that first baseman Willson Contreras was named to the American League All-Star roster. He will join pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Ranger Suárez. 

The 34-year-old first baseman was one of the biggest snubs when the league initially announced the All-Star game rosters on Saturday night. Contreras has been the best and most consistent batter in a Red Sox lineup that has struggled mightily, leading the team in batting average (.284), on-base percentage (.378), slugging percentage (.542), OPS (.920), home runs (20), runs scored (45), and RBI (59). With 20 home runs in 86 games in 2026, Contreras is on pace to surpass his previous career high of 24, set in 2019 with the Chicago Cubs. 

Along with being one of the best hitters in baseball in 2026, Contreras has also been one of the best defensive first basemen in the sport, ranking in the top five in both fielding run value and defensive runs saved, and in the top 10 in outs above average. 

He earns his fourth career All-Star Game nod after Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. announced he would not be playing in the game despite being voted the starter during the fan voting phase. 

Boston starter Sonny Gray remains one of the biggest snubs for the American League All-Star roster after being left off the team during Saturday's announcement. The 36-year-old Gray leads all starters with 10 wins in 16 starts and posts a 2.61 ERA, the ninth-lowest among qualified starters. Gray is joined by Rays starter Nick Martinez as the only two pitchers within the top 10 lowest ERA's in the sport to be left off the All-Star rosters.

The Red Sox announced a series of roster moves on Monday's off day, including the activation of left-handed starter Patrick Sandoval from the 60-day injured list. The 29-year-old left-hander has not appeared in a game for Boston after signing a two-year, $18.25-million deal ahead of the 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery undergone in 2024. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Sandoval will make his long-awaited return to a major league mound in Thursday afternoon's series finale in Chicago. 

The Red Sox will look to extend their three-game winning streak to four on the South Side of Chicago, opening up a three-game set with the White Sox at Rate Field. Payton Tolle (4-6, 3.39 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite fellow rookie lefty Noah Schultz (2-5, 5.86 ERA) for Chicago. First pitch set for 7:40 p.m. ET.

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