What happened: A Red Sox roundup reports that outfielder Roman Anthony has resumed swinging a bat without pain in the injured hand that has sidelined him for most of the stretch, though he has yet to face live pitching. Pitcher Garrett Crochet is also described as progressing in his own return from injury.

Why it matters: Anthony and Crochet are central to Boston's plans, so any movement toward their return matters for a lineup and rotation that have been operating shorthanded. Clearing the pain-free hitting milestone is a meaningful step, but the gap between dry swings and facing live pitching means a return date remains uncertain.

What to watch: Watch for Anthony to advance to facing live pitching, the next checkpoint before any rehab assignment. Updates on Crochet's throwing progression will signal how close he is to rejoining the rotation.