The Boston Red Sox simply can’t seem to catch a break. The team received more bad injury news on Thursday, the latest in a string of seemingly endless maladies.
A day after starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock went on the injured list, another key team contributor faced the same fate. And if that wasn’t enough, the news got worse for the ballclub’s lone superstar as well.
Outfielder Tyler O’Neill was placed on the 7-day IL Thursday after colliding with third baseman Rafael Devers in Monday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. Devers, who has attempted to play through left knee discomfort, is set to have an MRI and may be heading to the IL himself soon.
Boston Red Sox Lose O’Neill, May Lose Devers
O’Neill needed eight stitches to close a gaping wound on his forehead following his collision with Devers. The two-time All-Star is hitting .313 with a team-high seven home runs.
While O’Neill cleared concussion protocol, he has been unable to play since. The 7-day IL is reserved for players suffering head injuries, and O’Neill’s placement upon the list was made retroactive to April 16.
Devers left Tuesday’s game vs. the Guardians early with knee discomfort. According to Cora, Devers’ pain “came out of nowhere.” However, the two-time Silver Slugger served as the designated Wednesday’s finale against Cleveland. He went 0-for-4 as DH, striking out three times.
Also a two-time All-Star, Devers has struggled this season. He is hitting a scant .188 with a pair of homers and five RBIs in 13 games. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters after Wednesday’s game that Devers will undergo an MRI in an attempt to discover the source of his knee pain.
Injuries Continue to Mount for the Boston Red Sox
Whitlock became the Boston Red Sox’s third starting pitcher to go on the IL Wednesday after leaving Tuesday’s game early. He will be out at least 15 days with a strained left oblique.
The team 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.
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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