A turbulent 2024 season for the Boston Red Sox just hit another snag as the third member of the starting rotation has gone on the injured list.
The Red Sox, 9-9 entering Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, already saw hurlers Lucas Giolito and Nick Pivetta go down to injury. Not to mention, star shortstop Trevor Story went out for the season with a shoulder injury two weeks ago.
Now, the team has lost yet another critical contributor go out for at least 15 days as Garrett Whitlock hits the IL with a strained oblique.
Boston Red Sox Running Out of Arms
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Whitlock made an early departure from Tuesday night’s start against the Guardians, leaving the game after just 54 pitches. The ailment was initially termed as “left oblique tightness,” but after further examination, it was determined that an IL stay was warranted.
According to NESN, Whitlock “pushed back” against the decision, but management eventually won out. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the New England media outlet:
“The hope is for him to be back as soon as possible. We just got to be smart.”
The outing was Whitlock’s shortest of the season, as he gave up three hits and two earned runs in his four innings of work. The 27-year-old former swingman that the team moved full-time into the rotation is among the American League leaders with a sparkling 1.96 ERA this season.
Injuries Continue to Hamper the Boston Red Sox
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Whitlock isn’t the only new injury concern for the Boston Red Sox. Superstar third baseman Rafael Devers also left Tuesday’s game early with knee discomfort. According to Cora, Devers’ pain “came out of nowhere.” However, the two-time Silver Slugger is in the lineup for Wednesday’s game.
Injuries have severely hampered Beantown’s hopes of avoiding a third-consecutive last-place finish in the ultra-competitive AL East. The team currently resides in last despite its .500 record. As Cora told NESN, the Boston Red Sox just need to carry on, saying:
“It’s not fun, but it is what it is. We just gotta be ready for today, and the guys that are playing today, they gotta do their job. That’s the attitude that we have. That’s the attitude they should have. Players, we’ve been talking to them. We’re gonna use everybody, we’re gonna move people around, we’re gonna try to maximize matchups.”
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Tom Carothers is a sportswriter with more than 20 years of experience covering sports at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Still longing for the return of his Minnesota North Stars, he has a high pain tolerance as a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Browns, and Tottenham Hotspur.
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