Stephen Drew could return to the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup Thursday.
While it’s unclear whether Drew will be available Thursday when Boston begins a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park, Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards that it’s “a possibility.”
“He’s going through a full day of activity,” Farrell told reporters Wednesday. “There were some light swings (Tuesday), more just to get some rotation involved but not to push it too much.”
Drew, who is 1-for-14 with five strikeouts in four games since returning to the Red Sox, has missed the last three games because of oblique tightness. It’s an ailment the 31-year-old is unfamiliar with so the club is remaining cautious.
“He’s never dealt with an oblique before,” Farrell said. “He’s had some hamstring issues in the past, but this is something he doesn’t have to gauge or compare against and we don’t want to risk this turning into something more prolonged.”
Jonathan Herrera has played shortstop in Drew’s absence.
