Roman Anthony and Trevor Story expected to be activated by Red Sox on Sunday

The Red Sox are expected to activate outfield prospect Roman Anthony and infielder Trevor Story from the injured list on Sunday, per beat reporter Ian Browne. The moves are described as all but certain, though the club had not yet announced the corresponding roster transactions as of Saturday evening.

The timing puts both players in line to rejoin a Boston roster that has won three straight and sits 78-65, holding the second American League Wild Card spot with a six-game cushion over the cut line. The Red Sox trail the division-leading Baltimore Orioles by 7.5 games in the AL East.

What happened

Browne reported Saturday that Anthony and Story are all but certain to be activated Sunday. The Red Sox were still working through the corresponding roster moves required to clear space for both players on the active roster.

The phrasing suggests the activations are expected but not yet finalized. No timeline for the corresponding moves was provided, and the club had not made an announcement as of the report.

Why it matters

Anthony's arrival would mark the major-league debut of Boston's top prospect, a left-handed-hitting outfielder who has been one of the most closely watched minor leaguers in baseball. His activation has been anticipated for weeks, and the Red Sox have been managing their roster with an eye toward creating space for him in the final month of the season.

Story's return would restore a veteran presence to the infield. His activation would give the Red Sox additional depth at shortstop and second base as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season.

The timing is notable: Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium precedes a three-game home series against Seattle that begins Monday. The Red Sox will also see their active roster expand from 26 to 28 players on September 1, per league rules, which may influence how the club structures its corresponding moves.

Where the club stands

Boston enters Sunday's game at 78-65, winners of three straight. The Red Sox are third in the AL East, 7.5 games behind Baltimore, but hold the second Wild Card spot with a six-game cushion over the teams chasing them.

The schedule ahead offers both opportunity and challenge. Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium features Ranger Suarez on the mound for Boston against Will Warren. The Red Sox then return to Fenway Park for a three-game set with Seattle, with Payton Tolle scheduled to start Monday opposite George Kirby and Jedixson Paez slated for Tuesday against Bryan Woo.

The roster expansion on September 1 will give the Red Sox two additional active spots, easing some of the roster-management pressure that has accompanied the final weeks of August. The club has been navigating a crowded 40-man roster while trying to balance major-league needs with the desire to give Anthony his debut.

What we don't know yet

The corresponding roster moves remain unannounced. The Red Sox will need to clear two spots on the 26-man active roster to accommodate Anthony and Story, and the club had not indicated as of Saturday evening which players would be sent down, designated for assignment, or placed on the injured list.

It is also unclear whether Anthony will be in the starting lineup Sunday or whether the Red Sox will ease him into action with a bench role. The same question applies to Story, whose workload after an extended absence has not been detailed.

The nature of the injuries that placed both players on the injured list has not been specified in the report, nor have the lengths of their absences. Without those details, it is difficult to assess how much playing time each player missed or what kind of rehab work preceded their expected activations.

What to watch

The corresponding moves will clarify how the Red Sox are managing their roster in the final month. If the club sends players to the minors, it would suggest confidence that those players can be recalled when rosters expand on September 1. If the Red Sox designate a player for assignment, it would signal a more permanent roster decision.

Anthony's debut, if it comes Sunday, would be one of the most anticipated call-ups of the season. His performance in his first major-league action will be scrutinized by both the organization and the broader scouting community.

Story's return would also bear watching, particularly in how the Red Sox deploy him defensively. The veteran has played both shortstop and second base in his career, and his role in the infield mix alongside the club's other options will shape Boston's defensive alignment down the stretch.

The Red Sox face a compressed schedule in the coming weeks. The addition of two players—one a top prospect, the other a veteran with postseason experience—could provide both immediate help and long-term answers as the club tries to hold its Wild Card position and potentially close ground in the division race.

The September 1 roster expansion will also be worth monitoring. The Red Sox will gain two additional active spots, and the club's decisions about which players to add from the 40-man roster will offer insight into how the front office views the final month. Pitching depth, bench versatility, and defensive flexibility are all areas where the expanded roster could provide reinforcement.

For now, the focus is on Sunday. If Anthony and Story are activated as expected, the Red Sox will enter the final month with a reshaped roster and a chance to integrate two significant pieces into a lineup that has been playing its best baseball of late. The corresponding moves, when they are announced, will complete the picture.