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TORONTO — Batting third and playing catcher, Adley Rutschman made his Red Sox debut Tuesday, returning from the injured list eight days after coming over in a blockbuster trade deadline deal with the Orioles. Rutschman missed about three weeks with left wrist inflammation but was cleared to return ahead of the Sox’ game with the Blue Jays, amid their first three-game losing streak in nearly two months. “Having him actually ready to go in the lineup and knowing what he’s capable of — not only in the batter’s box, but behind the plate — yeah, I think it’ll be a lift for the boys, moving forward, knowing that he’s in there,” interim manager Chad Tracy said. Tracy decided to slot Rutschman in third and drop Wilyer Abreu to fifth for this first go-round but noted that is subject to change, including against lefthanded pitchers. The goal, Tracy said, was to protect cleanup hitter Willson Contreras from both ends. “It makes sense that he fits into the middle of the order somewhere,” Tracy explained. “It was more about, with him and Abreu, just figuring out a way to sandwich Willson with those two guys. … It makes a lot of sense to do it that way.” Rutschman went 1 for 3 with two walks and grounded out for the final out of the Red Sox’ fourth straight loss. The lone hit was a two-out infield single in the third inning. To clear a spot on the active roster, the Red Sox designated for assignment Jake Rogers, who joined the Sox in the same trade as Rutschman. They didn’t officially announce that move until 6:34 p.m., 33 minutes before first pitch, because they wanted to make sure everyone — including Rutschman and backup catcher Connor Wong — navigated pregame workouts without issue. As much as the Sox would like to keep Rogers in the organization, they realize he is likely to find a major league job elsewhere via the waiver wire in the coming days. This season, Rogers has spent four months with the Tigers, three days with the Orioles, and a week with the Sox (finishing 3 for 6 with two doubles in three games). Wong proved to be OK after slamming his head on the Rogers Centre turf while making a diving catch of a bunt attempt Monday. When Wong took the field to warm up, a young fan asked him if he was well. Wong offered a thumbs up from a distance. “We were obviously concerned about that,” Tracy said of Wong’s head-banging. “I was less concerned when he was able to continue. More of a whiplash thing, but felt good after the game last night. Checked out OK this morning. So, we’re good there.” After being behind the plate for Patrick Sandoval on Tuesday, Rutschman is due to catch Ranger Suarez on Wednesday, followed by a day off Thursday. “Probably you’re looking at a two-in-a-row type thing with a day [off] for a period of time,” Tracy said. “Obviously, [in the] long haul when his legs are fully under him, you’re going to see him catching quite a bit.” Rutschman could DH occasionally “if he’s hot,” but Tracy noted he is more inclined to give Rutschman an actual day off when he is not catching. Anthony progressing Roman Anthony (sprained right hand/wrist) has continued to make steady progress, including this week starting to take batting practice against Trajekt, a high-tech pitching machine able to mimic specific pitches from specific pitchers. Typically, that is the last step before an injured hitter faces live pitching. Anthony is “getting closer” to a rehabilitation assignment, per Tracy. “With that hand and with a lot of these things, I’m learning I don’t want to put a timetable on it,” he said. “Because you just don’t know, as he does that now, how’s it going to respond? But again … it’s another step in the right direction.” Contreras slowed Adding to Contreras’s list of ailments: The first baseman has been managing a sore left hamstring in recent days. In addition to a badly bruised left foot last month, getting hit in the head with a pitch on July 31, and being felled by an illness last weekend, Contreras has dealt with the leg issue, which is why he did not run hard on a ground out Saturday (drawing boos from the Fenway Park crowd). It isn’t significant enough for Contreras to sit out, but he has been stretching it out during games and during pregame defensive drills/batting practice. He was grabbing his hamstring after flying out to start the second inning. After going 0 for 4 with a strikeout, Contreras is batting .167 (4 for 24) with no extra-base hits and nine strikeouts to two walks in August. Personnel news The Red Sox transferred infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm stress reaction) to the 60-day IL. Since he already has been out for nearly that long, it doesn’t change his timeline to return. Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.