WooSox Game Information
IL Worcester Red Sox

WooSox Game Information

Published on September 17, 2026 under International League (IL)
Worcester Red Sox News Release


The game is live on NESN+. Thank you.

SEPTEMBER 17th DURHAM (37-33)/(65-80) at WORCESTER (39-30)/(75-65) 6:05 pm

Durham Bulls RHP Jake Woodford (0-3, 5.11) vs. Worcester Red Sox RHP Johan Oviedo (NR)

The Final Four (maybe) - The Worcester Red Sox - winners of 3 straight, 5 of 7, and 10-4 since August 30 - continue to hang close in the International League playoff race, now with just four games remaining in the regular season. The first of those Final Four will be played tonight at 6:05 pm at Polar Park when the WooSox host the Durham Bulls (AAA-Tampa Bay) in game three of their 6-game season-ending series. Worcester has rallied late to win the first two games of the series - 2-1 in 10-innings on Tuesday and 8-5 last night - and as such have remained 2-games out of 1st-place but now with just these four games remaining...tonight & tomorrow night both at 6:05 pm and then over the weekend on Saturday at 4:05 pm and Sunday at 1:05 pm. Tonight's Game 3 can be seen on NESN+ and heard on NASH 98.9 FM.

Keep Hope Alive - The WooSox are doing their best to keep their uphill (but there is a chance) playoff hopes alive for as long as they can this week and hopefully into the final weekend. Worcester enters play tonight trailing 1st-place Rochester & Indianapolis by 2-games, but the WooSox are in 4th-place in the crowded International League Pennant race. Only the team with the best record in the 2nd half among all 20 IL clubs will earn a playoff spot and the opportunity to go to 1st half champ Memphis next week to face the Redbirds in a best 2 out of 3 series to determine the 2026 International League Champion.

Ole Ole Oviedo - Boston Red Sox RHP Johan Oviedo will make his first rehab start with the WooSox - and appear in a game for the first time since he made his Red Sox debut this past March 30 - in Game 3 of this series tonight at 6:05 pm. Oviedo, who was acquired from Pittsburgh along with current WooSox reliever Tyler Samaniego in a 5-player trade last December that sent former WooSox OF Jhostynxon Garcia to the Pirates, was placed on the Red Sox injured list on March 31 with a right elbow strain. Oviedo, 28, has pitched in 82 games (67 starts) with St. Louis (2020-2022), Pittsburgh (2022-25), and Boston (2026) going 15-26 with a 4.29 ERA. His lone appearance with the Red Sox came on March 30 at Houston in relief - 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 2 HRA. A native of La Habana, Cuba, Johan missed all of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in December of 2023. He returned to the Pirates rotation in August of 2025 and went 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA in his final 8 starts of the season.

Pennant Race - With 4 games remaining in the regular season for all teams, Rochester and Indianapolis are deadlocked atop the league in the 2nd half with their 42-29 records (.592 winning pct). Five teams are within 2-games of the top spot and the one playoff berth that comes with the best overall 2nd half record in the 20-team IL. Worcester is in a tie for 4th place overall and 2-games behind the co-leaders. The 2nd half champ will be determined by winning pct. Syracuse is in 3rd-place with a 39-30 record (.571) while Worcester and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre are both 38-30 for a .565 winning pct.

Warm & Hot Sox -

Franklin Arias Had his 8-game hitting streak snapped on Friday. Now hit in 11 of his last 12 games (21-for-52, .404) with 4 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 12 runs scored. Has struck out just 5 times in his last 17 games (77 plate appearances) Also had a 7-game hitting streak from August 19-28 but went 0-for-1 as a late replacement on August 29. So he has hit safely in 18 of his last 20 games (29-for-76, .382) with 8 2B & 13 RBI. And last 37 games is batting .349 (51-for-146) with 11 2B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 26 runs scored. Has 24 HR total on the season (19 with Portland & 5 w/ Worcester) and 86 RBI (52 with Portland & 32 w/ Worcester) in 114 games total.

Kristian Campbell Placed on the 7-day injured list on September 10 with a left foot contusion. Hit in 6 of his last 9 games (12-for-32, .375) with 2 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 6 runs. Had a 20-game on-base streak from July 5 - August 6 (ended on August 7 despite two line-drive outs). Last 43 games since July 3 is batting .327 (47-for-144) with 30 walks. Is tied for 7th in the league with 73 BB and 9th in OBP (.383).

Vinny Capra Had his 14-game hitting streak - longest on WooSox this season - end on August 12 (he did walk in the game). Last 37 games is batting .300 (39-for-130) with 4 2B, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 29 runs scored. Is 4th in league with 83 runs scored.

Romy Gonzalez Went 0-for-1 with a walk before being removed from the game on September 8 (elbow) ending his 8-game hitting streak. Returned to lineup on Tuesday going 1-for-3 with 2B, BB, RBI and was 1-for-4 with a double on Wednesday. So has hit in 10 of his last 11 games (18-for-40, .450) with 4 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, and 7 runs scored. Also hit in 18 of his last 22 games (32-for-83, .386) with 6 2B, 3 HR, 21 RBI and 13 runs scored.

Mikey Romero Went 0-for-4 on Tuesday ending his 9-game hitting streak. Now hit in 9 of his last 10 games (17-for-44, .386) with 4 2B, 4 RBI, and 8 runs scored.

Braiden Ward Leads all of Triple-A Baseball with 60 SB setting a new WooSox club-record (and the "modern day" Red Sox organization Triple-A record - since 1973) for stolen bases in a season that was held by David Hamilton with 57 in 2023. Ward has been hit by pitch 30 times to lead Minor League Baseball. Those 30 HBP are a new modern day Boston Red Sox Triple-A record that was held by Pawtucket INF David Eckstein with 20 HBP in 2000. Ward also is tied for 9th in the International League with 77 runs scored.

Hobie Harris Last 17 relief appearances is 4-0 with 3 SV and a 1.19 ERA - 22.2 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 14 BB, 25 SO.

John Holobetz In 2 starts in September is 1-0 giving up 1 ER in 11.1 IP with 11 SO.

Sam McWilliams Last 10 relief appearances is 1-1 with 2 SV and a 1.46 ERA - 12.1 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 15 SO.

Jedixson Paez Since returning to Worcester on September 4 after making his Boston Red Sox debut on September 1 has made 2 starts for the WooSox - 9.1 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO.

Noah Song Last 12 relief appearances has a 2.03 ERA - 27 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 9 BB, 35 SO.

Blake Wehunt Last 5 starts is 2-0 with a 3.04 ERA giving up 9 ER in 26.2 IP with 21 SO.

Gage Ziehl In 3 starts in September is 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA allowing 6 ER in 17.1 IP.

WooSox Promotions during their final homestand at Polar Park this week and weekend vs. the Durham Bulls

WooSox Fan Appreciation Week/Weekend at Polar Park

Tonight, 6:05 pm Deuces Wild final Thursday Summer evening home game when fans can purchase $2 Hot Dogs (Coney Island and Hebrew Nationals), $2 12-ounce drafts of Coors Light and Masshole Light Lager, and $2 bottles of Polar water (the beverage deals run from September 11-17); Former Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill, a Milton, MA native who pitched for 14 different Major League teams over an outstanding 21-year big league career, will appear and sign autographs in the Sherwood's Diner from the 3rd - 6th innings, presented by DCU; Community College Night; WooSox play as Kelley Squares Alternate Identity.

Friday, 6:05 pm UniBank Fireworks featuring "Love is All You Need" music; Pride in the Park Night, presented by George's Coney Island.

Saturday, 4:05 pm The final Larry Lucchino Writer's Series in the Polar Park DCU Club will take place from 12:30 - 2:00 pm featuring a review of the "Music of Baseball" with WooSox president, Dr. Charles Steinberg; Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, presented by UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center; Bark in the Park, presented by Veterinary Urgent Care Center Worcester; Wachusett Town Takeover (Princeton, Rutland, Sterling, Paxton, and Holden); Sunset Catch on the Field (post-game).

Sunday, 1:05 pm WooSox Team Poster Giveaway for the first 5,000 fans, presented by TruNorth Bank; Team Autograph Day on the field from 11:00 - 11:45 am; Worcester Railers Day with autographs from players in the Sherwood's Diner during the game; Players give select fans their Shirts Off Their Backs after the game; Kids Run the Bases post-game; and Endless Summer Sunset Catch on the field post-game (both weather permitting).

WooSox Tickets Tickets for all WooSox games during the final homestand during Fan Appreciation Week/Weekend are on sale at woosox.com, by calling 508-500-8888, or at the Polar Park Ticket Office.

Check out the Worcester Red Sox Statistics

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International League Stories from September 17, 2026


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