Red Sox lean on Wyatt Olds and Alec Gamboa as bullpen shuffles around injuries

The Red Sox bullpen has been playing musical chairs for the last few weeks, and when the music stopped, Wyatt Olds and Alec Gamboa found themselves holding the remaining seats.

The reshuffle stems from absences by Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman, per Yahoo Sports. The two relievers are among the club's most trusted arms in high-leverage spots, and their missing time has forced Boston to reach deeper into its relief corps to cover innings that would normally go to more established options.

What happened

Yahoo Sports reported that Olds and Gamboa have emerged as the primary fill-in options as the Red Sox navigate the bullpen vacancy. The piece notes that ideally neither pitcher would be asked to work in high-leverage situations—those innings should belong to Tyron Guerrero, Erik Miller, and Chapman when healthy. But baseball does not always cooperate with ideal scenarios.

On Saturday against the Giants, Olds entered a close game with the Red Sox trailing by two runs in the top of the eighth, a spot that would normally be reserved for a more seasoned reliever. The report indicates he ran into some trouble but does not detail the outcome of his appearance.

The report also mentions that Raymond Burgos and Seth Martinez were standing when the musical chairs metaphor played out, leaving Olds and Gamboa as the two relievers who secured roster spots in the current configuration.

Why it matters

A bullpen stretched thin in August is a bullpen that could fracture down the stretch. The Red Sox need reliable arms to protect leads and keep games close when their high-leverage options are unavailable. The absence of Whitlock and Chapman removes two pitchers who would typically handle the most critical innings, forcing the club to deploy relievers in situations they may not be equipped for.

The timing compounds the challenge. Boston is in the thick of a playoff race, and every game carries weight. If Olds and Gamboa cannot hold up under the increased workload, the Red Sox may need to explore other roster moves to shore up the bullpen before the calendar turns to September.

The report suggests that when the Red Sox take a lead, the likes of Guerrero, Miller, and Chapman should be pitching. But Chapman's absence means one fewer option in that tier, and if Whitlock remains unavailable, the margin for error shrinks further.

The numbers

Boston is 78-65 (.545), sitting in third place in the AL East, 7.5 games back of the division lead. The Red Sox hold the second Wild Card spot, +6.0 relative to the cut line, a position that depends on depth and reliability when the games matter most.

The club enters this stretch on a three-game winning streak, a modest cushion that could evaporate quickly if the bullpen falters. The Red Sox have built their Wild Card buffer through consistent play, but maintaining it will require the secondary tier of relievers to perform at a level they may not have been built for.

Where the club stands

Boston is scheduled to send Sonny Gray to the mound Wednesday at loanDepot park against the Miami Marlins, with Ryan Gusto as the opposing starter. The Red Sox then travel to Yankee Stadium for a two-game set, with Patrick Sandoval facing Cam Schlittler on Friday and Jake Bennett opposing Carlos Rodón on Saturday.

Each of those starts will lean heavily on the relievers behind them. Gray, Sandoval, and Bennett will need to eat innings to protect a bullpen that is already working without two of its most trusted arms. The series at Yankee Stadium will be particularly telling—the Yankees represent a direct competitor in the Wild Card race, and the Red Sox cannot afford to lose ground while their bullpen is in flux.

The three-game winning streak provides some breathing room, but the schedule ahead will test whether the current bullpen configuration can hold up. If Olds and Gamboa struggle, or if Whitlock and Chapman remain unavailable into September, Boston may need to make additional roster moves to stabilize the relief corps.

What we don't know yet

Yahoo Sports did not specify the nature or expected duration of Whitlock's and Chapman's absences, nor did it provide a timeline for their return. The report does not indicate whether the absences are injury-related or stem from other factors, leaving the club's bullpen outlook uncertain.

The piece also does not detail how Olds performed after running into trouble against the Giants, nor does it clarify whether his outing signals confidence in his ability to handle future high-leverage work. The lack of specifics about Gamboa's recent usage leaves open questions about how the Red Sox plan to deploy him in the coming days.

Without a clearer picture of when Whitlock and Chapman might return, the Red Sox are operating with limited information about how long they will need to rely on Olds and Gamboa in expanded roles.

What to watch

The Red Sox will need to monitor how Olds and Gamboa perform over the next week or two. If either pitcher proves capable of handling close games, the club's depth picture improves considerably. If both struggle, Boston may need to explore other roster moves—call-ups, internal shuffles, or adjustments to the pitching staff—to shore up the bullpen before the playoff push intensifies.

The return of Whitlock and Chapman will be the most important development to track. Until then, the Red Sox are betting that their lower-tier relievers can rise to the moment. The upcoming series against Miami and the Yankees will provide an early test of that bet.

The club's ability to protect leads and keep games close in the late innings will determine whether the current bullpen configuration is sustainable. If the Red Sox can navigate the next stretch without losing ground in the Wild Card race, they will have bought themselves time for Whitlock and Chapman to return. If not, the musical chairs may need to start again.