The Boston Red Sox enter Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Angels all but certain to be dancing in October for the second consecutive year. As a result, they have been afforded an incredible luxury for the final three weeks of the season: the ability to rest struggling and banged-up players, giving them ample time to get back to full strength ahead of what’s shaping up to be a best-of-three playoff series in the Bronx with the New York Yankees. 

In recent weeks, the Red Sox have placed key contributors like relievers Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock, and Tyron Guerrero on the injured list, as well as All-Stars Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras as they nurse nagging ailments associated with the daily grind of a 162-game season. While the team certainly wants to balance losing all their key contributors to the injured list at once, Contreras seemingly on the cusp of returning from the IL. And with him slated to return, third baseman Caleb Durbin should be the next man up to get a short breather ahead of the playoffs. 

After a brutal start to the season in which he was one of the worst hitters in the sport, Durbin sought advice from outside hitting instructors, completely changing the tenor of his season. From June 1 to July 31, Durbin hit .305/.371/.511/.882 with nine home runs and 22 RBI. In that stretch, Durbin led the team in batting average while trailing only Contreras in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and weighted runs created plus. 

However, during Boston’s series in Colorado in late June, the 26-year-old partially dislocated his left pinky. And while the injury hasn’t caused him to miss substantial time, the injury has continued to linger. While Durbin has brushed off the effects of the injury as being “only a pinky,” his performance at the plate has taken a major hit over the last month. In 29 games since Aug. 9, Durbin is hitting just .234/.354/.277/.631 with only two extra-base hits. While the injury is certainly not as severe, as we learned from Roman Anthony’s torn ring finger ligament, finger injuries can be fickle.

Durbin’s dirt-dog mentality is one of the things that ingratiated him with a Red Sox fanbase that worships those types of players, and as a result, Durbin certainly wants to power through the injury. However, it’s far more important that he’s as close to 100 percent as possible heading into October. 

Durbin will bat sixth and play third base as the Red Sox look to kick off the penultimate home stand of the regular season with a series win over the Los Angeles Angels in Wednesday night’s rubber match. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (9-6, 3.34 ERA) gets the start for Boston opposite Ryan Johnson (3-8, 5.17 ERA) for Los Angeles. First pitch from Fenway Park is set for 6:45 p.m. ET.