Roman Anthony suffers setback, feels soreness in wrist during first time swinging a bat

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For a moment over the weekend, there was a glimmer of optimism for the Red Sox about the progress of Roman Anthony in his return from right wrist inflammation.

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After a cortisone shot, he’d experienced enough improvement to position Anthony to start swinging a bat Monday for the first time since he suffered his injury on a check-swing May 4.

The hoped-for start of a hitting progression instead became a setback.

“[He] swung a little bit and had some soreness, so, for the time being we’re probably going to back off [Anthony swinging] until we get through the offday [on Thursday],” interim manager Chad Tracy said before the Red Sox’ 3-1 win in Kansas City. “Obviously, you’re not going to have him swing through soreness and discomfort, so not as good [of] news today, but we’ll back off and see what happens after the offday with a few more days of rest.”

Assuming he doesn’t start trying to swing until at least Friday, a best-case progression for Anthony would be a return next week. The 22-year-old outfielder has now missed 17 of the team’s 47 games this season.

The Red Sox received better news about catcher Carlos Narváez, who was wearing a plastic splint on his right middle finger after experiencing inflammation over the weekend in Atlanta.

The catcher acknowledged that he’d been “afraid” Sunday that he’d suffered a fractured finger, but was reassured initially by X-rays that came back negative and even more by what he described as significant improvement in the digit Monday.

He acknowledged that it remained difficult to grip and throw the ball, but expressed optimism that he’d be able to return on Tuesday to catch Ranger Suárez.

For the first time this year, third baseman Caleb Durbin was out of the lineup for a second straight game. With Durbin mired in a yearlong slump that places him among the least productive hitters in baseball (.165/.247/.245), Nick Sogard got his second straight start at third base.

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“We’re doing everything we can to make sure we get some offense out there,” said Tracy. “I don’t think it means it’s permanent [Sogard] is taking over at third. You’ll still see Durbin, I just think that on given days, if we see a matchup we like, and Sogey is part of it, we’ll use him. We’re searching for runs.”

The impetus for the alignment was two-fold: The Sox hoped that giving Durbin multiple days off might permit him a chance to catch his breath at a time when he’s been consumed by his struggles.

“It’s not a secret that he’s going through it,” said Tracy.

But the Sox also have been encouraged by the quality of Sogard’s at-bats in both Triple-A and the big leagues this year. Monday, he went 1 for 3 with a bunt single and a walk.

Prior to his recall Saturday, Sogard was having the best minor league season of his career, hitting .269/.417/.454 with five homers for the WooSox. The 28-year-old, now in his fifth year with the Sox, suggested the numbers reflect his improvements.

“The org has pushed me to add, obviously, strength and exit velocity, which have been crucial. I think that’s been a really important piece of being able to play and get to this level, using those improvements, but making sure also that I’m attacking the at-bats the way that are my strengths,” he said. “I still don’t have a whole lot of time here. I don’t think I’ve played my best baseball here . . . I’m confident I can do here what I’ve done in the minor leagues.”

Trevor Story (sports hernia) has returned to Boston, but has yet to see specialists to decide whether to have surgery. In his absence, Andruw Monasterio started at shortstop Monday and went 2 for 4 — and Marcelo Mayer took pregame grounders at the position . . . Outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela was out of the starting lineup due to what Tracy called “a little tightness” in his hamstring. He entered the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth. He’s expected back in the lineup Tuesday . . . Lefthander Danny Coulombe (cervical spasms) is expected to pitch Tuesday for Triple-A Worcester, his second rehab appearance . . . Brayan Bello, whose 7.16 ERA is the third highest of any pitcher with at least 30 innings pitched this year, remains slated to pitch at Fenway against the Twins next weekend, Tracy said.

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