Red Sox lose yet another starter; RHP Garrett Whitlock has an oblique strain and is placed on the 15-day injured list.
Boston, Massachusetts (AP) – The Boston Red Sox placed Garrett Whitlock on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, which is just another blow to their already thin rotation due to injuries.
Due to a left oblique strain, the right-hander had to leave the game against Cleveland after just four innings on Tuesday night. He gave up three hits and two runs.
Manager of the Red Sox Alex Cora described it as a “slight strain.”
“We’re hoping he returns as soon as possible. All we have to do is be wise,” Cora remarked.
Boston called up left-handed reliever Joe Jacques from Triple-A Worcester to take Whitlock’s spot on the squad.
In four starts this season, Whitlock, 27, is 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA. In 18 1/3 innings, he has struck out 17 batters and walked seven.
Whitlock, who was selected by the Red Sox in the 2020 Rule 5 draft from the rival New York Yankees, is 18-11 with a 3.39 ERA and nine saves in 80 relief appearances and 23 major league starts since 2021.
After dealing left-hander Chris Sale to Atlanta in December, Boston was already shorthanded in several positions for its anticipated 2024 rotation. In addition, Red Sox rookie Lucas Giolito is expected to miss the entire season after undergoing elbow surgery in March, and Nick Pivetta is also on the 15-day IL due to a right elbow flexor strain.
Jacques, 29, has played for Worcester this season and has given up seven runs in four innings. Last season, he made his major league debut for the Red Sox, going 2-1 with a 5.06
Boston: Tanner Houck put an end to the Red Sox’s crazy homestand on Wednesday night at Fenway Park. The game ended in a 2-0 victory over Cleveland, which took just one hour and forty-nine minutes to finish, which is the shortest nine-inning game since June 2, 2010—Armando Galarraga’s near-perfect game for Detroit. The Red Sox had been through a slew of injuries, careless defense, and some heartbreaking late-inning losses.
In remembrance of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, that phrase designates a shutout achieved in fewer than 100 pitches.
69 of the 94 pitches that Houck faced were strikes. It was the first shutout in Red Sox history, dating back to June 6, 2022, in Anaheim, and starring Michael Wacha. And the inaugural “Maddux”
Before Thursday afternoon’s game, the Red Sox (10-9) had improved to 3-6 on the homestand.
Houck struck out nine while giving up just three hits and no walks.
Houck is finally living up to his promise and defining his role this season, after years of trying to do both.
Houck is 3-1 with a 1.35 ERA in four starts.
This was a nastier version of Houck’s slider, which is his most dangerous pitch. With so many of their swings and misses, the Guardians flailed.
The Red Sox took the lead in the third inning when Pablo Reyes scored on a balk by Ben Lively, on a night when Houck didn’t need much run support. In the fourth, Connor Wong increased the insurance with a solo shot over the Green Monster.
