Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox have not had the start to the 2026 MLB season they were hoping for. After starting the year with a win, the Red Sox dropped eight of their last 10 games, entering Wednesday's matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 3-8 record, good for last place in the AL East.
Boston has been led by outfielders Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony through the first 11 games. Abreu has recorded team highs of 16 hits, seven runs and three home runs in 43 at-bats, good for a .372 batting average, while Anthony has notched 10 hits, five runs and a home run in 43 at-bats, batting .233. But for the next few weeks, the Red Sox will be without a key pitcher.
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Johan Oviedo has entered his first season with the Red Sox after being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates in early December. The right-handed pitcher from Cuba made his first start for Boston in the March 30 loss to the Houston Astros but did not fare well, allowing six hits, two home runs and four runs in just 3.2 innings on 72 pitches.
Following the loss, Oviedo reported an issue with his throwing elbow, saying he was unable to bend his arm. The injury, initially categorized as a right elbow strain, landed him on the 15-day injured list on April 3. But on Wednesday, it was revealed that Oviedo has been diagnosed with a flexor strain and will be “shut down” for the next six weeks before a reevaluation, leaving Mora and the Red Sox down a pitcher for the foreseeable future.
"Red Sox pitcher Johan Oviedo has a flexor strain and will be shut down for six weeks," MassLive's Christopher Smith wrote on X. "Then he’ll return to the doctor and they will go from there. Doctors are hopeful rest will heal it."
Following the Brewers game on Wednesday, the Red Sox will be back in action on Friday, hitting the road to face the St. Louis Cardinals at 8:15 p.m. ET.
