The 2026 MLB season has opened with a storm for the Boston Red Sox, and the frustration is palpable. After a hard-fought 8-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, the Sox find themselves in a deep 2-8 hole, languishing at the bottom of the fiercely competitive AL East.

The tension erupted in the third inning when Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff plunked Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras on the hand—a pitch thrown with his own brother, William Contreras, catching for Milwaukee. An incensed Contreras yelled at Woodruff from first base and later that inning delivered a hard, pants-tearing slide into Brewers shortstop David Hamilton on a force play.

After the game, Contreras issued a stark warning to the Brewers, a team that has hit him a staggering 24 times in his career. "They always say, 'I'm not trying to hit you,'" Contreras stated. "That gets old. So, next time they hit me again, I'm going to take one of them out. That's a message."

The bad blood is nothing new. Contreras spent a decade tormenting Milwaukee as a member of their NL Central rivals, the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. According to MLB.com, Brewers pitchers have hit him 10 more times than any other club, with Woodruff accounting for six of those.

Milwaukee, for its part, seemed unfazed, even challenging the hit-by-pitch call (which was upheld). "I mean, we've seen that skit for the last 10 years," veteran Brewers slugger Christian Yelich remarked. "It's nothing new."

Despite the drama, Contreras's performance was spectacular. He went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, a walk, and that contentious HBP, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. His effort wasn't enough, however, as Garrett Mitchell's two-run single in the eighth inning sealed the win for the Brewers, who at 8-2 are tied with the Dodgers for baseball's best record.

The familial and divisional rivalry adds another layer to this interleague clash as the two teams prepare for a quick rematch Tuesday night at Fenway Park.