With Toro off the roster, Cora expects a strict platoon of Nathaniel Lowe (against righties) and Romy Gonzalez (against lefties) at the first base position. Toro had made 56 starts at the position since being promoted in May in the wake of Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury but was redundant with Lowe on the roster.

Right-hander Jordan Hicks continues to struggle, as he allowed two runs in the ninth inning on Monday. The 28-year-old now has a 6.61 ERA in 28 appearances this season and a 7.07 ERA in 15 outings since the Red Sox acquired him in the Rafael Devers trade. However, manager Alex Cora remained committed to Hicks in the postgame presser, via NESN.

The Boston Red Sox's second-year man had a surge late in the first half of the season, making him a legitimate All-Star snub. But since returning from the All-Star break, and coinciding with the team's decision to play him at second base more often than his natural position of center field, he's been mired in a slump.