Roman Anthony set to continue rehab with Triple-A Worcester this week

WORCESTER — Former WooSox reporter Natalie Noury once said: “No great comeback ever started from the lead.”

And if the Worcester Red Sox want to make the playoffs this season, they’ll have to make a great comeback in the final four weeks of the regular season.

The WooSox currently sit 3½ games behind Indianapolis for the top spot in the International League East second-half standings. Whoever wins the second half would play Memphis in a best-of-three championship series with the winner advancing to face the Pacific Coast League champion in a single-game championship.

So, with Scranton/WB (who is two games ahead of the WooSox in the second-half standings and 1½ games behind Indianapolis — and four other teams ahead of the WooSox in the standings) in town for a six-game series this week, Worcester will need to make up some ground on multiple teams if they want to follow Noury’s adage by the end of September.

“I think that’s what makes it fun,” WooSox acting manager Iggy Suarez said during his team’s last homestand. “When you get to this point of the season and you’re playing for something, it kind of revives (you) a little bit. (With) the dog days, it kind of helps get you through that. Every game counts and it means something, and it’s very rare.

“I think a lot of guys who play pro ball, they’ve never had an experience of going through a playoff run or being in the playoffs, and I tell the guys to enjoy it. It’s pretty cool.”

While Worcester (27-23, 63-58) has scuffled of late, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox has added a few big-league players to its active roster this past week.

Infielders Trevor Story (hernia) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (forearm) have both played in a handful of games for the WooSox, and fellow Red Sox rehabber Roman Anthony (finger) has played in four games with Double-A Portland.

Could all three players be rehabbing with Worcester at Polar Park this week? Well, former WooSox manager and current Red Sox acting manager Chad Tracy confirmed on Sunday that Anthony will join Triple-A Worcester for a rehab stint this week.

Mix in top Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias, or even Romy Gonzalez, and the WooSox could have quite the lineup against the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate during rivalry week (the Red Sox head to the Bronx to face the New York Yankees for a four-game series starting on Friday).

The last time Anthony played a game in Worcester was on June 8. 2025. A day earlier, the 22-year-old outfielder hit a 497-foot grand slam to place an exclamation point on his time in AAA. Now, he’s returning to Polar Park on a rehab assignment.

Along with Roman’s Return, here is the upcoming schedule (which includes all weekday games starting at 6:05 p.m.) and the list of promotions at Polar Park for this week:

Tuesday (6:05 p.m.): Taco & Tequila Tuesday, presented by Teremana; Tail Waggin’ Tuesday (fans can bring their dogs); AARP Ticket Tuesday; Leominster Town Takeover.

Wednesday (6:05 p.m.): First Responder Wednesday, presented by National Grid, when first responders receive four free general admission tickets; Fallon Health Silver Slugger Night when seniors can enjoy concessions discounts; Woofster’s Birthday.

Thursday (6:05 p.m.): Deuces Wild every Thursday Summer evening home game when fans can purchase $2 hot dogs (Coney Island and Hebrew Nationals), $2 12-ounce drafts of Coors Light and Masshole Light Lager, and $2 bottles of Polar water (the beverage deals run from Aug. 21-27); Los Wepas de Worcester, presented by Modelo and La Mega Radio celebrating Brazil; Backyard Baseball Night.

Friday (6:05 p.m.): UniBank Fireworks to Emo/Pop Punk music; African Heritage Night.

Saturday (4:05 p.m.): Make-A-Wish Day; Overdose Awareness Day; Sunset Catch on the Field (postgame, weather permitting).

Sunday (1:05 p.m.): Bluey & Bingo at Polar Park; Going Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, presented by UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center; Kids (of all ages) Run the Bases postgame.

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Roman Anthony set to continue rehab with Triple-A Worcester this week