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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:08:22 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Eric Hosmer day-to-day after leaving game with left knee contusion: ‘He should be OK’
Published: Aug. 10, 2022, 12:20 a.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Red Sox first baseman Eric Hosmer is day-to-day after leaving Tuesday’s game with a left knee contusion.
Batting in the fourth inning of his home debut as a member of the Red Sox, Hosmer fouled a Charlie Morton pitch off his left knee. He hobbled around home plate as manager Alex Cora and a team trainer came out to check on him but remained in the game. In the top of the fifth, Bobby Dalbec replaced him on defense at first base.
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“Sore. Very sore. It was on the back knee,” Cora said. “He’s day-to-day. Most likely, he won’t play tomorrow. But he should be OK.”
Tuesday was Hosmer’s fourth game with Boston since coming over in a deadline day trade with San Diego. Before departing, he was 0-for-2 with a strikeout. So far with the Red Sox, he’s 2-for-12 (.167) with two doubles, an RBI and three walks for Boston.
Dalbec will likely be in the lineup Wednesday night against the Braves and righty Kyle Wright. It seems like Hosmer could return as soon as Thursday when the Sox welcome the Orioles to town for one game. Righty Austin Voth will be on the mound for Baltimore in that one.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:09:41 GMT -5
Red Sox injuries: Michael Wacha, Kiké Hernández nearing returns; Trevor Story swings bat, James Paxton continues to progress
Updated: Aug. 09, 2022, 9:08 p.m.|Published: Aug. 09, 2022, 8:59 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- On a day when Chris Sale was ruled out for the season and Tanner Houck hit the injured list with lower back inflammation, there was actually good news for some injured Red Sox players.
Michael Wacha, who has been out for a month with right shoulder inflammation, and Kiké Hernández, who has missed two months with a right hip flexor strain, are both getting close to returning. Wacha threw 4 ⅓ innings in a rehab start at Double-A Portland on Tuesday night and is expected to join the Red Sox for his next start, which will likely come Saturday. Hernández swung the bat Tuesday at Fenway Park and is expected to begin a rehab assignment with the Sea Dogs on Wednesday. It’s unclear how long he will be there but Cora expects him back in the majors in the coming weeks.
“His moves are a lot better now than he was hurt,” Cora said. “I asked him, actually, since when have you been feeling tight in that area? Last year a little bit, spring training a little bit. It’s more explosive, more clean. hopefully, when he gets back, he can get back to hitting the ball in the air and out of the ballpark and give us a spark.”
Another injured pitcher, Tyler Danish, will also go to Double-A Portland on Wednesday and make a rehab appearance. He’s expected to pitch two innings and then pitch again either Friday or Saturday. The reliever has been out since July 7 with a right forearm strain.
Here are some other injury updates from Cora:
* Second baseman Trevor Story (hairline fracture in wrist) has resumed swinging a bat, which is a big step in his recovery from the hand injury that landed him on the IL in mid-July. Cora said the Red Sox have to be patient with Story, who was unable to comfortably grip a bat for a couple weeks, but he’s trending in the right direction.
* Lefty reliever Matt Strahm (left wrist contusion) threw a bullpen at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
* Lefty starter James Paxton (Tommy John surgery) faced hitters in another up-and-down session in Fort Myers on Wednesday and is expected to throw in a simulated game Friday. He’s not far off from beginning his progression through rehab games and then, eventually, making his season debut in the majors.
“He’s in such a good spot now that it’s not about the arm,” Cora said. “It’s about the pitch mix, the breaking ball, all that. When those guys start talking about that, you know they’re over the hump.”
* Lefty reliever Josh Taylor (low back strain) will throw a bullpen Wednesday at Fenway Park. Taylor, who has not yet pitched this year, has suffered multiple setbacks while rehabbing the injury.
* Outfielder Rob Refsnyder (right knee sprain) ran the bases at Fenway Park and is feeling better. He might be ready to return soon after a couple of rehab games.
“I feel like, with him, whenever he’s ready, he’ll probably go down there, get a few at-bats and we’ll decide what we’re going to do,” Cora said.
* Starter Brayan Bello (left groin strain) threw a bullpen Tuesday at Fenway. It sounds like he could come off the injured list when he’s eligible after 15 days (around Aug. 19).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:20:00 GMT -5
With Houck injured, Boston's bullpen faces test
2:42 AM ADT
Ian Browne
Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- The task of catching up in the standings was already looming as a hard one for the Red Sox. But it got even tougher about an hour before Tuesday’s 9-7 loss to the Braves in 11 innings at Fenway Park, with the news that closer Tanner Houck was placed on the injured list with lower back inflammation.
For weeks, the mantra for the Red Sox has been about having players due to return from the injured list to fortify their roster for the final stretch.
But as they wait for Michael Wacha, Kiké Hernández, Trevor Story and more to return, other health problems continue to mount.
There was unfortunate news before the Sox even got to the ballpark on Tuesday, when the club announced that Chris Sale was in a bike accident on Saturday and broke his right wrist. His season is over. Sale was already recovering from a fractured left pinkie finger, an injury sustained in his second start back from a fractured right rib cage.
And now, there’s the loss of Houck from the bullpen, the area that has been Boston’s weakness for most of the season.
“It’s going to be tough, but guys have to step up,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
The Red Sox saw just how daunting that task will be on Tuesday, when the bullpen gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits and six walks while striking out only four in seven innings.
At 54-57, Boston is five games out of the third American League Wild Card spot. And now, Cora’s team will need to beat a string of tough opponents (the Braves, the Orioles and the Yankees) over the rest of this homestand without its most important reliever.
Tuesday’s blown save by Matt Barnes was the 23rd of the season by Boston, the second most in MLB. The bullpen has a 4.41 ERA, which ranks 26th in the Majors.
It makes a shaky start like the one Rich Hill had (four innings with four runs allowed on seven hits) more magnified.
“Yeah, I was terrible,” said Hill. “I have a lot of other words for it. It starts with me and not giving the bullpen a chance. We had to go to the bullpen early. I couldn’t get through five innings. That doesn’t sit well with me.”
The earliest Houck can pitch again for the Sox is on Aug. 21, as his move to the injured list was retroactive to Saturday. But it’s far from certain he can make it back that fast.
“Heartbreaking,” Houck said of the injury. “Any time you go on an IL stint, it’s going to be heartbreaking, no matter what. You want to be out there competing with the guys every single day. Just counting the days until I’ll hopefully be back.”
When might that be?
“We’ll know more [Wednesday], “ said Cora. “He’s been dealing with it for a while. That’s why we tried to stay away whenever we could [from Houck recently]. That’s why you saw [Garrett Whitlock] going three, John [Schreiber] going multiple innings, just to see if he was feeling better. He actually felt better in Kansas City, but now we have this.”
The best-case scenario is the one Houck is rooting for. Boston’s postseason hopes, already waning, could depend on Houck needing just the minimum time required by his IL stint.
“I hope it does wonders. Time heals everything,” said Houck. “Hopefully, with a little bit of rest, recovery and our incredible [training] staff, [I’ll] get back on the field as soon as possible.”
Schreiber, Whitlock, Ryan Brasier, Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura and Austin Davis are among the pitchers Cora will have to lean on more while Houck is out.
It sure didn’t take long for the loss of Houck to seem glaring. While Whitlock got the Sox through a scoreless ninth after a mishap in the eighth, Cora had to turn to righty Kaleb Ort in extras.
Ort was the depth righty who was called up to take Houck’s spot on the roster on Tuesday. The difference in the two teams’ relief situations was evident, as the defending World Series champion Braves called on one standout reliever after another in the late innings.
“It’s unfortunate how it ended,” said Houck. “I have full faith in all those guys out there. I know how hard they work, so continue to root for them and just do my part whenever I can.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:21:28 GMT -5
Bill Koch
@billkoch25
·
8h
Austin Riley just hit one to the moon.
I have to respectfully question the 426 feet offered by Baseball Savant. Lansdowne Street was in no immediate danger -- Kenmore Square was. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:21:52 GMT -5
Bill Koch
@billkoch25
·
7h
Might be an opportune time to stop the wave after Eric Hosmer fouls one off his left leg.
Fenway Park has no clue.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:22:45 GMT -5
Bill Koch
@billkoch25
·
5h
Kaleb Ort allowed seven balls in play against the eight batters he faced. Five of those were 97.5 mph or harder. Three of them were 102.2 mph or harder.
The Braves used him for batting practice. He's on the hook in the 11th. #RedSox
Disconcerting amount of Braves fans left cheering the final out. Shudder to think how the crowd split might look when the Yankees come in over the weekend.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:24:39 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams
@byjulianmack
·
8h
The Braves have hit for the cycle against Rich Hill in the first 1 2/3 innings tonight.
Man...Barnes.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:26:35 GMT -5
Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
·
7h
Barnes walked the No. 8 hitter with two outs, goes 3-1 to the No. 9 hitter, then gives up a game-tying double.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:33:51 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Red Sox closer Tanner Houck placed on injured list with back issue
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 9, 2022, 9:14 p.m.
The Sox did not acquire a bullpen arm at the trade deadline.
Now, the team will be without one of its most valued relievers as the team placed closer Tanner Houck on the 15-day IL with lower back inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 6.
“I’ve been dealing with it for a little while now. Just kind of showing up every day, continuing to work on it. Just kind of reached that point,” Houck said after the Sox’ 9-7 loss to the Braves Tuesday. “Anytime you go on an IL stint it’s going to be heartbreaking no matter what.”
The Red Sox expect to have more information Wednesday.
The 26-year-old righthander last appeared in the Aug. 2 matchup against the Astros, when the righthander tossed 1⅔ shutout innings to earn his eighth save.
Since moving to the bullpen this season, Houck has a 2.70 ERA, yielding 13 earned runs in 43⅓ innings. Overall, he’s 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA.
To fill Houck’s spot, the Sox recalled righthander Kaleb Ort from Triple A Worcester.
Hosmer forced out
Eric Hosmer left the game with a left knee contusion after fouling a ball off that area in the fourth inning. He is considered day to day.
Hosmer was 0 for 2 with a groundout and a strikeout in his first game at Fenway as a member of the Red Sox.
Story in the swing
Trevor Story (right wrist fracture) swung a fungo Tuesday and is progressing, the second baseman said.
Story, who was struck in the hand during a game against the Rays last month, was initially diagnosed with a right hand bruise. The Sox thought Story would be back activated off the IL at the minimum number of days (10). But when Story continued to feel pain, he decided to get a second opinion, which revealed a hairline fracture.
The Sox shut him down from swinging for a week and a half before beginning his ramp-up again.
“After getting re-evaluated and taking the time down, it was very helpful,” Story said. “[The wrist] feels good. It’s normal, which is great. We gave the bone enough rest time.”
Story said he will continue his rehab work for up to two weeks, and noted that his return to the field will largely be based on pain tolerance.
Wacha takes the hill
Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) started for Portland against the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Hadlock Field. Wacha threw 79 pitches over 4⅓ innings, allowing four hits and two runs, with two walks and five strikeouts. There’s a strong possibility Wacha will rejoin the Sox soon. Long after Wacha left the game, Portland rallied for a 5-4 victory, the winning run coming home on Alex Binelas’s single in the 10th . . . Tommy Pham played his first game at Fenway as a member of the Red Sox. Prior to the game, the new Sox left fielder could not tame his excitement. “I’ve seen it on the opposite side as a visitor,” said Pham, who homered in the third. “But the love that they give their team is different. I’m ready to experience it. One thing I learned, man, is every team loves their fans. It’s just that there’s a few teams that might love their fans a little bit more.” … The Red Sox signed righthanded reliever Jeurys Familia to a minor league deal. Familia had a 6.09 ERA in 38 appearances for the Phillies this year before he was designated for assignment.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:38:00 GMT -5
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
·
6h
The Red Sox bullpen has three straight innings of retiring the first two batters and then allowing at least two runners to reach, with the tying run allowed in the sixth (Barnes) and go-ahead run in the 8th (Whitlock). Atlanta leads, 6-5, heading into the bottom of the 8th.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:38:44 GMT -5
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
·
5h
Fair to ask why Sox had Ort pitch to Riley and then IBB Olson, especially given Ort’s reverse splits (.421/.488/.526 vs RHH entering tonight, .200/.316/.333 vs LHH). He also had reverse splits (though less pronounced) in AAA. However, he has higher K rate and lower BB rate vs RHH
So perhaps was just thought a bad matchup to have him face Olson with no room to maneuver.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:39:52 GMT -5
Alex Speier
@alexspeier
·
5h
Cora on Houck’s absence: “It’s going to be tough but guys have to step up…Regardless, we have to throw the ball better. … We haven’t done a good job putting guys away.”
Cora says Sox will know more about Houck tomorrow. SYs he’s been dealing with back issues “for a while.”
Hosmer “is very sore…He’s day to day.” Most likely will not play tomorrow.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:46:29 GMT -5
Lou Merloni
@loumerloni
·
7h
Barnes is afraid of contact still
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 3:53:02 GMT -5
Braves @ Red Sox
Wednesday, 10th July 2022
7pm @ Fenway
Wright 13-5/3.22
Pivetta 8-8/4.51
Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 7:10pm EDT
Written by Jordy
If the series opener was any indication, the Atlanta Braves’ two-game pit stop at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox could end with more fireworks. It took 11 innings for things to finally be settled on Tuesday, as the Braves stole the first game in the series. The Red Sox will clearly come out swinging in Wednesday’s finale in an effort to even up things. Kyle Wright gets the nod to start on the mound at pitcher opposite of Boston’s Nick Pivetta.
Right on time for the Braves
The offense came when the Braves needed it, while the Red Sox sputtered out of juice late in Tuesday’s opener.
Let’s also give credit to the many relief arms that held strong against a Red Sox team ranked sixth in the league in average hits (8.70) and 11th in runs scored per game (4.48).
They can turn on the offensive jets and leave an opposing team choking in their smoke at any point in a game.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, that point came on Tuesday as the Braves knocked in three runs in the final two innings to get a victory. They might have to do it again if Kyle Wright pitches like he did on the road against the New York Mets. The 26-year-old starter got cracked at Citi Field in a game where he allowed seven hits and six earned runs. That could very well happen again on Wednesday just like it did to Charlie Morton.
Wright has a 13-5 record with a 3.22 ERA. His best pitching work has come in his home building this season. Perhaps he can kick in the door and make himself feel more at home. The bats are clearly there for both teams in this series. So this one is far more likely to come down to Wright’s arm and the bullpen.
The Braves are expected to still be without catcher Travis d'Arnaud and second baseman Orlando Arcia for this game.
Can the Red Sox even the score?
Nick Pivetta’s mid-July matchup against the New York Yankees should at least conjure up a bit of fear ahead of this game. The 29-year-old righty ran into an explosive offense and absolutely crumbled on the mound.
Atlanta has a high-powered offense as well with the ability to turn Wednesday’s game into another shootout. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are giving up a whopping 5.19 runs per game in their home building. This Braves team is a terrible matchup for them on paper.
Of course, the Red Sox could bypass the whole Pivetta hero act and turn their attention back towards the offense. The explosive playmaking we saw from the Red Sox in Tuesday’s game is something that must carry over into Sunday’s rematch.
Kyle Wright has been cracked before. He can get cracked again.
But then again, this Red Sox offense has been nothing but inconsistent. They aren’t running up the scoreboard on the daily, and they’re leaving the sixth-most runners in scoring position.
Braves
at
Red Sox
Wednesday, at 7:10 PM EST
Partly Cloudy
According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 69° F with a 3% chance of rain and 5 MPH wind blowing in in Boston at 7:10 PM EST.
Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 10, 2022 8:49:40 GMT -5
Red Sox, Braves look for improved pitching performances
FLM
The Atlanta Braves are overdue for a good performance from a starting pitcher, and Kyle Wright has been delivering all season.
Wright (13-5, 3.22 ERA) is set to take the mound on the road against the Boston Red Sox in the finale of their two-game series Wednesday night.
The Braves ended a season-high three-game losing streak by winning the series opener 9-7 in 11 innings on Tuesday, but they let four leads evaporate, including two that belonged to starting pitcher Charlie Morton.
In the past six games, Atlanta's starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 6.90.
Wright went 4-0 in five starts in July with a 2.64 ERA but lost his first outing in August.
He gave up six runs and seven hits in six innings of a 6-4 loss at the New York Mets on Thursday. The six earned runs matched his season high, and he allowed four home runs for the first time in his major league career.
"He wasn't as sharp as he's been and battled through," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "Long ball got him a little bit. One of them days."
Wright faced the Red Sox on May 10, when he also was coming off a loss to the Mets, and had numbers similar to his most recent start. He surrendered six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of the 9-4 loss.
HIs only outing that was shorter this season was forced by a rain delay.
Wright is 0-1 in three appearances overall against Boston, including two starts, with a 5.40 ERA.
The Red Sox plan to start right-hander Nick Pivetta on Wednesday. Pivetta (8-8, 4.51) is seeking his first win since June 24 after going 0-3 in five starts in July with a 9.38 ERA.
Pivetta avoided getting pegged with the loss in his most recent start on Thursday. He gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings of a 7-3 defeat at the Kansas City Royals.
"I was really happy with my results," he said afterward. " I was happy with everything."
Pivetta has struggled in the second half of seasons in his MLB career, however.
He's 9-21 with a 5.67 ERA after the All-Star break, compared with 29-24 with a 4.68 ERA before.
August also has been his worst month. He owns a 3-9 mark in the month with a 6.63 ERA, compared with 11-4 with a 3.66 ERA in May.
Pivetta played four seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2017-20, so he has plenty of experience against the Braves from his National League days.
He went 19-30 in those four seasons with a 5.50 ERA but is 6-2 against Atlanta with a 4.84 ERA.
Pivetta has faced the Braves twice since he was traded to the Red Sox on Aug. 21, 2020. He earned the victory in a 9-5 win against Atlanta on May 26, 2021, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings.
The Red Sox likely will be without first baseman Eric Hosmer, who was acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres last week. He exited Tuesday's game after fouling a pitch off his knee in the fourth inning. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Hosmer's knee is sore and he's day-to-day.
The Braves also lost second baseman Orlando Arcia, who pulled his hamstring after driving in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th and had to be helped off the field. Snitker said Arcia will go on the injured list.
--Field Level Media
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