The Boston Red Sox are getting ready to be without one of their most productive hitters for an extended period of time.

Third baseman Alex Bregman will be out with what manager Alex Cora called a “significant” right quad strain. Turns out it’s a similar injury to his left quad strain in 2021, one that cost him 58 games.

“Yeah, pretty severe right quad strain. Pretty similar to ‘21,” Bregman said.

Signed by the Red Sox as a free agent to a $120 million, three-year deal during the offseason, Bregman has been hitting .299 and has 11 homers and 35 RBIs.

To take his place on the roster, the team promoted top infielder prospect Marcelo Mayer from Triple-A Worcester and placed Bregman on the 10-day injured list.

“It feels good,” Mayer said before the doubleheader’s second game. “It’s something I worked for my whole life.”

Mayer, who was selected No. 4 overall in the 2021 amateur draft, is slated to make his major league debut at third — a position Cora says will get a “mix and match” approach.

Cora answered “no” when asked if Rafael Devers could be in the immediate plans, but he didn’t completely close the door.

“We made a decision in the offseason and this is where we’re going,” Cora said. “There are a few things that we took into consideration and I think we’ve been very consistent with it.

“I’m not going react to the outside world because (they) think that’s the right move. Maybe it’s not, right? Maybe we’re doing it right? Maybe we’re doing it wrong?”

Devers was the team’s third baseman for eight seasons and moved to designated hitter when Bregman was given the job. He told the Red Sox earlier this month he wasn’t moving to play first base, as he’s been red-hot at the plate. Devers is batting .299 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs.

Rangers SS Seager takes step in recovery

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager faced live pitching Saturday in another step in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Seager could return to Texas’ lineup as soon as next week.

“It’s going well with him,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “So I could see him playing next weekend at home. I mean that’s how well he’s doing. Continue to get live BP when we get home on Monday. Could be even a little sooner, who knows? That’s how good he looks.”

Seager was activated from the injured list on May 3 after being sidelined by a right hamstring strain. He played in five games before he went back on the IL on May 13.

The 31-year-old Seager, who is in the fourth season of a $325 million, 10-year contract, is hitting .300 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 26 games this year.

Outfielder Evan Carter also worked out before Texas’ game at the Chicago White Sox. Carter is on the IL with a right quadriceps strain.

Carter is on a similar timeline as Seager, but Bochy said Carter is going to need a rehab stint in the minors before returning to the team.

Briefly

Padres >> San Diego right-hander Michael King was scratched from his scheduled start about 40 minutes before Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. The Padres announced King would not pitch due to right shoulder stiffness.

White Sox >> Chicago right-hander Jonathan Cannon was scratched from Saturday’s start against Texas because of lower back tightness.