After sitting for the third time in the last 17 games in Friday night’s extra innings loss to the Braves, the Boston Red Sox will be without one of their veteran leaders for at least 10 days, as shortstop Trevor Story is reportedly headed to the injured list with a groin injury. 

Masslive.com's Christopher Smith was first with the news that Story would be heading to the injured list as a result of the issue. Chris Cotillo, also of MassLive.com, added that Story has been dealing with the injury since the Red Sox series in Baltimore in late April, the same one in which Alex Cora was fired as manager.

Ahead of Friday night’s loss to Atlanta, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy explained Story’s absence from the lineup to Cotillo, saying, “We are always monitoring Trev with the groin and making sure he’s good. We felt like today was an appropriate day to give him off.”

It hasn’t been the start to the season that anyone envisioned for Story, who was coming off his best season since coming to Boston in 2022. The 33-year-old is hitting just .206 with a .547 OPS; his 47 weighted runs created+ (wRC+) ranks the fifth-worst among all qualified hitters in baseball. 

In addition to his poor start at the plate, Story has also become one of Boston’s lone question marks on defense, committing the fifth-most errors in baseball (five). His OAA of -3 ranks in the 10th percentile of shortstops. 

According to Tommy Cassell of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, utilityman Nick Sogard has been recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take Story’s spot on the major league roster. 

Sogard has been solid in 36 games for Worcester, hitting .269 with five home runs and 23 RBI while posting an .871 OPS. The 28-year-old has appeared in 61 major league games across two seasons for the Red Sox with a career line of .266/.321/.335 in 135 at-bats. 

In a crucial first step in his return from the wrist sprain that has kept him out for the last nine games, Boston outfielder Roman Anthony has begun baseball activities. The 22-year-old played catch ahead of Friday night's 3-2 loss. According to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, Tracy told reporters that the former No. 1 prospect in baseball could begin a hitting progression as soon as this weekend. 

The Red Sox will look to even the series against the Braves on Saturday night. Payton Tolle will get the start for Boston opposite right-hander Bryce Elder for Atlanta. First pitch from Truist Park set for 7:15 p.m. ET. 

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