Injuries & Moves: Verdugo (groin) expected to start Friday
LATEST NEWS
May 17: RF Alex Verdugo should be able to start next game after exiting with left groin tightness
Verdugo, who has been one of the most consistent performers for the Red Sox this season, had to exit Wednesday's game against the Mariners at the start of the third inning due to left groin tightness. The Red Sox termed his removal from the game as precautionary. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Verdugo should be fine to start the team's next game on Friday night in San Diego.
May 17: RHP Garrett Whitlock set to go again for Worcester on Sunday
Whitlock excelled in the opening of his Minor League rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday night, allowing one run over four innings while walking none and striking out four in just 49 pitches. Whitlock, who is coming back from right elbow neuritis, is set to make a second start for the WooSox on Sunday. There's a chance he is activated in the days following that start.
"Everything felt consistent, so just doing what the trainers and coaching staff tell me to do and moving forward with that," said Whitlock. "Everything felt great. I felt healthy. So that's the biggest thing."
May 16: RHP John Schreiber placed on 15-day injured list with right teres major strain; LHP Brennan Bernardino optioned to Triple-A Worcester; RHP Justin Garza recalled from Worcester; LHP Ryan Sherriff selected to Major League roster from Worcester
There were many moving parts with Boston's pitching staff on Tuesday. The biggest news is that the club will be without Schreiber, one of their most trusted setup men, for at least a couple of weeks due to a lat injury. Bernardino had done well since his call-up three weeks ago, but the Sox needed a fresh arm, necessitating his move back to the Minors.
Garza and Sherriff provide reinforcements from the right and left side, respectively. Garza, 29, was claimed off waivers by Boston from the Angels on April 28. The right-hander owns a 3.95 ERA in 10 Triple-A outings this season with Salt Lake and Worcester. He appeared in 21 Major League games with Cleveland in 2021 and posted a 4.71 ERA with 29 strikeouts, his only Major League experience.
Sherriff, 32, was signed by the Red Sox as a Minor League free agent on Jan. 21 with an invite to Major League Spring Training. He began the season with Worcester and posted a 3.00 ERA in 15 appearances. In 44 career Major League games with the Cardinals (2017-18) and Rays ('20-21), Sherriff owns a 3.65 ERA.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Garrett Whitlock (right elbow ulnar neuritis)
Expected return: Late May/early June
Whitlock fired four strong innings for Triple-A Worcester on May 16, allowing one run while walking none, striking out four and throwing 49 pitches. The expectation is that he will make another start for Worcester on May 21 and possibly be back in Boston's rotation after that. (Last updated: May 17)
RHP John Schreiber (right teres major strain)
Expected return: May 31 at earliest
Schreiber received news that his right lat injury is a teres major strain, which teammate Corey Kluber experienced earlier in his career. A key righty in Boston's bullpen, Schreiber isn't sure what the timetable is for his return. Schreiber has a 2.12 ERA in 18 appearances this season.
"I actually talked to [Kluber] yesterday during BP," Schreiber said. "He said that of all the injuries in his career that he had, and he said, I wouldn’t say easy, but it was one of the better ones to come back from, so I'm a little bit more optimistic now about that after talking to him." (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Kutter Crawford (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: May 19
Crawford threw three solid innings for Triple-A Worcester on May 16, allowing three hits and a run over three innings. He walked none and struck out four. The Red Sox are expected to activate Crawford on May 19 in San Diego in the opener of a nine-game trip on the West Coast. (Last updated: May 16)
INF Christian Arroyo (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Late May
Arroyo hasn't played for the Red Sox since May 6 due to a right hamstring issue, but he has made progress in recent days.
“He’s trending in the right direction," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "He is not going to the West Coast with us. So hopefully we can get him into some [rehab] games towards the end of the week, early next week, and he can join us at one point on the West Coast.” (Last updated: May 16)
INF Yu Chang (left hamate fracture)
Expected return: Early to mid-June
Chang is making progress from the left hamate fracture he suffered on April 24 in Baltimore. He has been taking grounders during batting practice of late. The Red Sox hope Chang will be able to return in June. (Last updated: May 16)
60-day IL
SS Trevor Story (Right UCL surgery)
Expected return: July or after
Story is now in Fort Myers, Fla., taking incremental steps toward a return to action around midseason. He is pretty much doing all baseball activities, including swinging, throwing and fielding. Story hopes to return at some point during the second half of the season. On Jan. 9, Story underwent an internal bracing procedure of the right ulnar collateral ligament. (Last updated: May 12)
OF Adam Duvall (distal radius fracture, left wrist)
Expected return: June 9 at earliest
Duvall no longer has a cast or splint on his left wrist, and is now focusing on improving his strength and range of motion. He said he will soon get a more detailed update on the progression of his rehab. (Last updated: May 12)
RHP Zack Kelly (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: September at earliest
Kelly underwent an ulnar nerve transposition revision on May 2 after suffering an elbow injury during his outing on April 12 at Tropicana Field. The Red Sox are hopeful Kelly can return by September. The righty had a 3.68 ERA in six outings this season. (Last updated: May 3)
INF Adalberto Mondesi (torn right ACL)
Expected return: June or later
Mondesi was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 30, which makes him eligible to play for the Red Sox on May 30 at the earliest. However, he isn't going to be ready that soon. Manager Alex Cora said Mondesi is scheduled to come to Boston soon and meet with the team's medical staff.
The key for Mondesi will be when he is cleared to start a Minor League rehab assignment. (Last updated: May 3)
RHP Wyatt Mills (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
The sidewinder injured his elbow midway through spring camp. He played long toss at 65 feet on April 10. There's no timetable for when he will be back. He is on the 60-day injured list, meaning the earliest he can return is late May. (Last updated: April 16)