Roman Anthony injury: Red Sox star rookie looking at 4-6 week absence, utility man called up

Less than 24 hours after star rookie Roman Anthony left Tuesday’s game with left oblique tightness, the Red Sox will place him on the injured list — and the club fears a lengthy absence.

Anthony has an oblique strain, manager Alex Cora confirmed during his weekly appearance on “WEEI Afternoons,” and is possibly facing a 4-6 week absence.

“He’s going on the IL. He has an oblique strain,” Cora said on WEEI. “Timetable, we don’t know… usually takes from 4-6 weeks.”

Four weeks from Wednesday is October 1, the date of a potential Game 2 of a Wild Card series. The regular season ends September 28, so it’s unlikely — but not impossible — Anthony returns before then, according to a source. It’s all about how Anthony progresses in the coming weeks.

Anthony, who had an MRI on Wednesday, grabbed at his side after striking out in the fourth inning of Boston’s 11-7 win Tuesday night and did not come back out on defense. After the game, he didn’t sound particularly upbeat about the injury but wasn’t sure if he needed an IL stint.

“I don’t know,” Anthony said. “I wish I knew. I haven’t dealt with something like this before. So I’d be lying if I said I knew. But again, we’ll know in the morning, I’m sure.”

Anthony missed two games in early August due to mid-back tightness. He said his current injury is more severe.

“This is definitely worse in terms of the way it feels but that’s right now,” he said.

The significance of Anthony’s absence down the stretch cannot be overstated. The 21-year-old catalyzed Boston’s midseason turnaround in June and has been one of the best offensive players in baseball since being promoted. In a 54-game stretch dating back to June 28, Anthony ranked first in the American League in multi-hit games (24), third in on-base percentage (.421) and hits (68), fourth in average (.329) and seventh in OPS (.933).

“He’s one of our best offensive players,” Cora said on the radio. “It sounds harsh but we have to move on. We’ve got to put that uniform on today and try to win a game. We’ve been through this before.

“There’s been a lot of stuff with this team and we’ve been able to keep going so I expect the group to keep doing the same thing.”

In Anthony’s absence, the Red Sox will recall infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard, who will be active for Wednesday’s series finale against the Guardians. Sogard has appeared in 18 games for the Red Sox this season, hitting .242 with three doubles, five RBIs and a .641 OPS. He started Friday’s game at second base during a brief big league cameo but was sent down a day later.

Sogard, who has logged time at all four infield positions as well as right field for the WooSox this year, will likely be in the mix for playing time at second base along with Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton during Anthony’s absence. Ceddanne Rafaela projects to be the full-time center fielder with Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder and Masataka Yoshida in the mix as outfield options. Cora said Duran is expected to be back in the leadoff spot against righties, a position he vacated when the Red Sox moved Anthony to the top of their lineup in late July.

The Red Sox are already without right fielder Wilyer Abreu, who is on the injured list with a right calf strain. Interestingly, the Red Sox are looking to Sogard over Kristian Campbell, who continues to be passed over for a major league promotion, and fellow rookie Jhostynxon Garcia, a natural outfielder.

Anthony’s injury comes with 22 games left in the regular season. The Red Sox are tied with the Yankees for the second Wild Card spot in the American League and are six games clear of the Rangers, who are the first team out of the playoff picture. Boston and New York both trail the Blue Jays by 2 ½ games in the AL East race.

“We put ourselves in a great position to fight for the division and win the division. Nothing’s going to change,” said Cora. “We’re a man down but somebody’s going to step up and come here and contribute. We’re gonna be OK.”