Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras is eligible to come off the injured list later this week from a strained left hamstring. The slugger was placed on the 10-day IL on Aug. 31 and wants to play at least one rehab game in the minors before returning. He will play the rehab game with Double-A Portland.

Interim manager Chad Tracy stated Contreras "just wants to get on his feet" and see some pitching. Contreras, 34, is batting .274 with a career-high 26 home runs and 79 RBI in his first season with Boston. Also Wednesday, catcher Adley Rutschman received a cortisone shot for his troublesome right elbow after homering in Monday's win.

Rutschman is expected back on Friday when the Red Sox open a home series against Kansas City. Left-hander Garrett Crochet felt fine after a 20-pitch bullpen session and is on track to ramp up for the postseason if Boston earns a spot. The Red Sox are comfortably ahead in the AL's three wild card race.