Chad Tracy made the decision to pull Payton Tolle in the fifth inning of a 1-0 game and disaster struck. Ben Rice crushed a dead-center home run off Erik Miller to give the New York Yankees a 2-0 lead. But the worst was yet to come for the Boston Red Sox.

The following half inning, Andruw Monasterio came to the plate in Roman Anthony’s place. The young outfielder left the game after just two at-bats. Injury speculation is already running rampant.

Update: Roman Anthony left the game because his previous hand injury “flared” up on his check swings, according to multiple sources including Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Chad Tracy is uncertain whether Anthony will play on Wednesday.

Anthony struck out in both his at-bats after failing to check his swing. The sophomore missed nearly four months of the season with a rare hand injury, a torn ligament in his left ring finger. He initially injured his hand by swinging and it stands to reason that another aggressive check swing could’ve re-triggered it.

NESN color commentator Lou Merloni said on NBC’s broadcast that Anthony’s formerly injured hand was wrapped up before the game. Anthony took a hard check swing in the regular season finale against the Chicago Cubs and immediately flexed his hand afterward, which could be another sign his hand issue is nagging him again.

Fans fear the worst for Roman Anthony after Red Sox pull him from Wild Card Game 1 in fifth inning

Anthony was expected to be one of Boston’s biggest offensive contributors this postseason, especially due to recent injuries to Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela that have them at less than 100 percent health. Losing Anthony to the IL for the second straight postseason would be a devastating blow for the Red Sox.

The 22-year-old was getting hot at the plate right at the perfect time, too. He slashed .320/.370/.560 in his last seven regular season games following a rough return from his hand injury, when he was striking out much more than normal.

Since Anthony was injured last postseason, fans waited a year for the first Anthony-Cam Schlittler matchup. Schlittler got the best of Anthony this go-round, with two strikeouts and possibly another injury to go with them.

Anthony started the Wild Card series opener as Boston’s designated hitter and its other DH options aren’t the most inspiring. Jahmai Jones could take the job against lefty Max Fried on Wednesday. He’s at least crushed southpaws this season. The other option is Nate Eaton, who has struggled at the plate in the major leagues this season (.160/.300/.260 slash line in 24 appearances).

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