New Update On Tyler O’Neill After Two Straight Missed Games

The Red Sox picked up a big series win over the weekend, but one of Boston’s best players wasn’t able to make a significant impact in Texas.

Tyler O’Neill missed the Red Sox’s next two games due to illness after starting in Friday night’s win over the Rangers. A bug appeared to have made its way around Boston’s clubhouse, as Rob Refsnyder also was under the weather Saturday and potentially into Sunday.

Fortunately for the O’Neill and the Red Sox, the veteran slugger is on the mend. Although he wasn’t used Sunday, O’Neill was available to pinch hit in the series finale at Globe Life Field and the “expectation” is he will start Monday night at Kauffman Stadium, per MLB.com.

Having O’Neill back at full strength this week would be a big boost for Boston. The Red Sox are set to open one of the most important series of their season to date in Kansas City, where they will meet the Royals for three games with major playoff implications. Alex Cora’s club then will return home to Fenway Park for a three-game set against the Houston Astros, who are competing with the Red Sox for the American League’s final wild-card spot.

O’Neill is set to face a tough customer upon returning to the field, as the Royals are scheduled to send Brady Singer (2.88 ERA) to the hill for the series opener.