The Red Patrick Bailey Jersey Sox are expected to reinstate first baseman from the 60-day injured list today, . The slugger should be back in the lineup for tonights matchup with the Orioles and ace . Casas, 24, had a slow start in 2023 before finding his stride with a to last season. He largely picked up where he left off early in 2024, popping six homers in 90 plate appearances and slashing .244/.344/.513 before sustaining fractures on the left side of his ribcage and enduring a lengthy shutdown from baseball activities. The Sox have eased Casas back into action with an 11-game run in Triple-A Worcester, during which hes turned in a hearty .300/.404/.550 slash in 47 trips to the plate. The return of Casas should provide a thunderous boon to a Sox lineup that has received middling production from in his absence. Smith hasnt been an abject liability but has turned in a tepid .237/.317/.390 batting line that checks in 5% worse than league average, by measure of wRC+. Others like , and have filled in at times but have struggled to produce overall. (Cooper is no longer with the organization.) While Casas return isnt likely to turn the tides in the division race at least not directly, though he could certainly impact the Orioles/Yankees battle for first place he could very much be a difference-maker in Bostons pursuit of a Wild Card berth. The Red Sox are eight games behind the Yankees and Os, who are tied for the AL East lead, but theyre a more manageable 2.5 games back in the hunt for the third Wild Card slot. Getting a legitimate 30-homer bat back into the middle of the lineup Casas has popped 30 homers while batting .260/.363/.493 in 154 games dating back to last season has major ramifications for the remainder of the Red Sox schedule. Casas is on the 60-day injured list, so Boston will need to make a corresponding 40-man roster move in order to reinstate their prized young slugger. They dont have an obvious candidate to replace him on the 60-day IL, unle s theyve quickly determined that s partial calf tear is indeed a season-ender, so a DFA or waiver placement could be in the offing. Jakson Reetz Jersey