Pearce (illness) is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday against the Pirates, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearce has been sidelined with the illness over the last week and it was reported he may get some at-bats Sunday, but the team will instead hold off a few days. The 35-year-old has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut this year.

Pearce (illness) could get some at-bats Sunday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

He has been out three days with this illness, but will go through a regular workout Saturday in hopes of being ready to return Sunday.

Pearce is dealing with an illness, Guerin Austin of NESN reports.

EDGE Analysis

This explains why Pearce hasn't made his Grapefruit League debut yet. It's unclear how much longer the first baseman will be sidelined at this point.

Pearce signed a one-year, $6.25 million contract with Boston on Friday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the Red Sox wanted Pearce back in the fold after he claimed World Series MVP honors for his role in the Fall Classic. Pearce was a valuable contributor for Boston ever since coming over in a trade from Toronto in late June, and finished the regular season with a slash line of 284/.378/.512 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI in 76 games. He figures to serve as a platoon partner to Mitch Moreland next season, so look for Pearce in the lineup when a southpaw opposes the Red Sox.

Pearce went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Dodgers in Game 5. He was named the World Series MVP for his efforts as the Red Sox took home the championship.

EDGE Analysis

Pearce only started in four of the five games of the series, but made an impact in back-to-back wins Friday and Sunday with three home runs and seven RBI. Acquired from the Blue Jays in late June, Pearce proved to be a shrewd pickup while he worked in a platoon at first base with Mitch Moreland. He'll hit free agency over the winter and may have raised his market value with the strong showing in the Fall Classic.

Pearce will start at first base and bat third against the Yankees during Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearce has always been a thorn in the side of Yankees' pitcher J.A. Happ, and with the latter on the mound for the first game of the series, manager Alex Cora elected to give Pearce a start and place Mitch Moreland on the bench. Across his career, Pearce has hit six home runs and holds a 1.419 OPS versus Happ. In addition, five of Pearce's 11 home runs this year have come against New York.

Pearce went 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in Friday's 11-6 loss to the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

With the Red Sox already in an 8-0 hole in the sixth inning, Pearce made things a bit interesting when he touched up his former Blue Jays teammate J.A. Happ for a grand slam, his 11th homer of the year. Pearce now has a robust .279/.394/.507 slash line in 50 games for Boston, and he'll head into the postseason as a lot more than just the bench bat and platoon option at first base the Red Sox thought they were getting when they acquired him.

Pearce went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's victory over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Pearce delivered with a solo home run over the fence in left field during the first inning of the series finale. After hitting .318 in July, Pearce is batting .273 with five home runs and nine RBI through just seven games in August, so he's off to a solid start. The 35-year-old should continue to see more playing time moving forward as long as he continues to swing a hot bat.

Pearce went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Alex Cora didn't have Mitch Moreland in the starting lineup against the right-handed Luis Severino, preferring to ride the hot bat of Pearce who launched three home runs Thursday. The move paid off immediately when Pearce gave Boston an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Right-hander Chance Adams scheduled to start for the Yankees on Saturday, which normally suggests the left-handed hitting Moreland would start, but Cora may want to give the hot-hitting Pearce another start.

Pearce will start at first base and hit cleanup Sunday against the Twins, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearce will draw his third start in four games, all of which have come against right-handed pitching. When he was acquired from the Blue Jays in late June, it was largely assumed Pearce would see most of his at-bats versus left-handed pitching, but platoon mate Mitch Moreland's recent knee issues have opened the door for Pearce to take on a larger role. Moreland returned to the lineup Saturday before getting a breather Sunday, so it's expected that Pearce will fade to a backup role before long.