Red Sox Keeping Kristian Campbell, At Least Six Others Ready For Playoffs

As the Triple-A regular season comes to an end this weekend, the Boston Red Sox need a plan in place to keep as many players as possible ready for emergency big-league duties.

Boston has eight games left in the major league regular season entering Saturday. It sorely hopes the playoffs are still to come thereafter, and at any point, an unexpected injury or even a major slump could create an opening that needs to quickly be filled.

So, at the conclusion of the weekend, the Red Sox are preparing to send just about every Triple-A player on the 40-man roster to the team's complex in Fort Myers to "stay ready," according to a report from MassLive's Chris Cotillo.

"Stay-ready" squad includes Campbell, Garcia, Perales

Worcester center fielder Jhostynxon Garcia runs off the field at Polar Park July 29. / Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

According to Cotillo, the confirmed players heading to Fort Myers include position players Kristian Campbell and Jhostynxon Garcia, plus pitchers Isiah Campbell, Jovani Morán, Cooper Criswell, Luis Guerrero, and Luis Perales, who made his Triple-A debut on Wednesday in just his second outing since returning from Tommy John surgery.

Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy sounded off on the purpose of this makeshift reserve squad, any of whom could theoretically be pressed into duty if something goes haywire in Boston.

“Mostly, you’re dealing with all the guys that are on the 40-man here, pitchers and hitters that are going to just go down there and be able to get reps and stay ready,” said Tracy, per Cotillo. “If you’re on the 40-man roster, you’re receptive to that and know you’re still a part of potentially helping up there.”

Another player will be added to the group whenever outfielder Wilyer Abreu is activated from the injured list. Abreu traveled to Tampa to join the Red Sox on their road trip in advance of Saturday's game with the Tampa Bay Rays, but his availability to play has not yet been confirmed.

Campbell is an obvious candidate to rejoin the roster, as he spent nearly three months in the majors as a rookie this spring. But the most intriguing name on the list is Perales, a 22-year-old right-handed fireballer who profiles as a future starter in Boston, but could hypothetically be an impact arm out of the bullpen at any time.

It's possible we see none of these players in the majors the rest of the way, and Perales may be the least likely of the bunch. But as long as they're still working hard, they never know when their name might get called.

Sam LaPorta Confident Lions Can Flip the Script Against Ravens

The Detroit Lions don’t need a history lesson on what happened the last time they visited Baltimore. It was ugly. It was lopsided. And it’s still stuck in the minds of players like tight end

Sam LaPorta.

For LaPorta, now one of the team’s most reliable playmakers, that afternoon is motivation, not baggage.

“We didn’t play our style of football that day,” LaPorta said as quoted by Lions OnSI. “Two quick three-and-outs, next thing you know it’s 21-0. We were chasing the game instead of controlling it. That’s not who we are now.”

A Different Offense, A Different Mentality

Fast forward to 2025, and the Lions’ offense has evolved. With Jared Goff playing some of the best football of his career, Amon-Ra St. Brown

cemented as one of the league’s premier receivers, and young contributors like Isaac TeSlaa making highlight-reel plays, Detroit is far better equipped to handle the chaos Baltimore creates.

LaPorta isn’t shy about what needs to change: start fast and stay calm.

“We can’t let the moment get too big,” LaPorta said. “Back then, we were frantic. Now, even if we take a punch early, we know how to respond. We’ve got too much talent and too much trust in each other to panic.”

Proof It Can Be Done

If the Ravens looked invincible in 2023, they’ve already shown cracks this season. In Week 1, the Buffalo Bills stormed back late to hand Baltimore a shocking loss despite Lamar Jackson’s hot start.

LaPorta believes that blueprint is encouraging.

“You saw what Buffalo did — they put up points fast against one of the toughest defenses out there,” LaPorta said. “That just shows it can be done. And we’ve got the guys to do it.”

Why This Rematch Matters

For the Lions, this Monday Night Football clash isn’t just about Week 3, it’s about showing the league that Detroit is no longer the team that crumbled two years ago. Dan Campbell’s squad has built its identity on resilience, and LaPorta embodies that mindset.

“It’s a chance to prove how far we’ve come,” he said. “We’re not the same team we were in 2023. We’re smarter, stronger, and ready for whatever they throw at us.”

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