Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox

At all stages of a season-defining surge, Ranger Suarez could only watch from the dugout. In the time the Red Sox transformed from nearly 10 games below .500 in his previous start to the second spot in the American League Wild Card race, Suarez nursed a left groin strain and subsequent illness. The All-Star returned on Sunday afternoon, tossing four scoreless innings in Boston’s 6-1 win over Toronto at Fenway Park. “I’m happy to be back,” Suarez said. “The first couple innings, I was kind of nervous, because I didn’t know how I was going to feel. After that, I felt pretty good.” The 30-year-old lefty scattered four hits, walked none and struck out six. He threw 42 of 64 pitches for strikes. Bullpen arms Greg Weissert, Tyron Guerrero, Justin Slaten and Ryan Watson did the rest before a sellout crowd of 36,795 as the Red Sox improved to 54-50. One lefty departed the roster and another one entered. On the heels of Connolly Early’s trade to the Nationals in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead, the Red Sox activated Suarez off the 15-day injured list ahead of Sunday’s series finale. Suarez went on the injured list on July 9 (retroactive July 6). A 2026 All-Star, Suarez left an eventual 7-5 win over the Angels with two outs in the third inning. The Red Sox entered that one with a 39-48 record. Oh, how everything changed since Suarez previously toed the rubber. Rattling off a 15-game win streak vaulted the Red Sox into playoff contention, and Suarez started for the first time in a Boston uniform as a member of a team with a winning record. Before the game, interim skipper Chad Tracy declined to share any details on Suarez’s limitations -- like a pitch count -- other than doubling-down on health as the top priority.