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Outlook Willson Contreras
Contreras Looking to Break Slump Against Tough Divisional Pitching
Contreras remains the everyday first baseman for the fifth-place Red Sox (33-46), but he has hit a significant wall lately. Over his last seven games, he is batting just .154 without a home run, a far cry from the power surge that saw him previously named AL Player of the Week. His volume is secure with Triston Casas on the 60-day injured list, but the production has lagged as Boston navigates a difficult stretch in the AL East.
Despite the recent skid, our data suggests this is a temporary regression rather than a fundamental shift in value. He is still slashing .280/.377/.516 through 77 games, well above our season-long projection of a .253 average. His 16 home runs prove the power is legitimate, though his strikeout rate has spiked recently with 16 punchouts in his last 14 games, contributing to the current dip in consistency.
The remainder of the week offers a challenging path as the Red Sox host the first-place Yankees. Contreras faces Will Warren (3.43 ERA) tonight, followed by Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon over the weekend. Both Cole and Rodon feature WHIPs under 1.30, making it a difficult environment to snap a cold streak. However, his power ceiling in a hitter-friendly environment keeps him relevant. Start.
Updated 1 day ago
