Wong (elbow) is batting eighth as the designated hitter for Sunday's spring game against Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old catcher is a bit behind schedule with his throwing program early in camp due to elbow soreness, but the injury won't prevent him from receiving his game reps at the plate. Wong's ability to hit through the injury is encouraging, though he shouldn't be considered fully healthy until cleared to work behind the plate.

Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Wong will be brought along slow early in camp due to elbow soreness, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wong's availability for the start of the regular season isn't likely to be affected by the injury, but he'll take things slow for now. The 27-year-old had a .673 OPS in 126 contests last season and is expected to open 2024 as Boston's primary backstop.

Wong is expected to be Boston's primary catcher to start the 2024 season, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wong appears set to lead what might be considered an assemblage of backup catchers, ahead of Reese McGuire, Tyler Heineman and Roberto Perez. Wong and McGuire handled catching chores in 2023 with the former taking over as the primary backstop when the latter went down with an oblique injury last summer. Over 121 games (105 as a starting catcher), Wong slashed .235/.288/.385 and was strikeout prone (33.3 K%). Much of his real-world value lay in his work gunning down base stealers. Per Baseball Savant, the 27-year-old ranked in the 92nd percentile in caught-stealing above average. It's been a quiet offseason for the Red Sox, who appear to be biding time behind the dish until 2023 first-round draft pick Kyle Teel -- he reached Double-A Portland last year -- is ready for the show.

Wong will be on the bench Saturday against Baltimore, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wong hits the bench after starting three games in a row behind the plate. Near the end of his first season as a big-league regular, the 27-year-old owns a .237/.290/.390 slash line. Reese McGuire will get the nod behind the plate.

Wong is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wong has just one hit over his past nine games and will take a seat for Tuesday's contest. Reese McGuire will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Tanner Houck.

Wong is not in the lineup Saturday against the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Reese McGuire will start at catcher and bat ninth Saturday. Wong is 1-for-12 since his last game on the bench Sept. 17. The 27-year-old has also not reached base in the last three games.

Wong is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Wong is hitting .205 with one home run, five runs and three RBI in 11 September games. Reese McGuire is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.

Wong is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Reese McGuire will start at catcher and bat ninth against the Jays and left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu. Wong played all 13 innings behind the plate Saturday and went 0-for-5 with a strikeout in a 4-3 loss for the Red Sox.

Wong is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Reese McGuire will do the catching for Brayan Bello in this one. Wong went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts during the Red Sox' last series versus the Yankees.

Wong isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wong will sit out the nightcap after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during the first game of Thursday's twin bill. Reese McGuire will start behind the dish instead and bat eighth.