The Boston Red Sox are in Arlington where they will open up a six-game road trip, first against the Texas Rangers before heading to Tampa Bay for three games against the Rays.
With their postseason position most likely locked into the second Wild Card spot, the most important thing surrounding the club is the health of their many rehabbing players. Among them are both pitchers and position players, some coming back from short-term absences and some looking to return from injuries that occurred during the first month of the season.
Manager Chad Tracy spoke with the media in Texas ahead of Tuesday’s game to provide updates on all of the ailing Red Sox.
Tracy said that all the progress has been good from short-term IL guys Ceddanne Rafaela and Tyron Guerrero, who are both eligible to come off of the injured list this week. Guerrero traveled with the team to Texas and is tracking to be activated on Wednesday or Thursday.
Rafaela has started to “increase running volume,” Tracy said, and will continue to do so over the next few days before he is reassessed. The Sox’ skipper had previously stated that his Gold Glove center fielder is back where he needs to be in every other facet except for the strength metrics in his running as he looks to bounce back from quad tightness.
Tracy also provided some good news on Garrett Crochet, who increased his workload again in a bullpen session on Tuesday. The 27-year-old left-hander threw two separate innings with a batter standing in at Fenway Park, getting his pitch count up to 30 pitches as he works back from the shoulder injury that sidelined him in April.
While Crochet still looks to be on track to return as a reliever at some point this season, Tracy did rule out the return of fellow rehabbing arm Justin Slaten. Further testing on the right-handed reliever’s elbow revealed “degenerative changes in the flexor mass,” which had to be treated with a PRP injection. According to Tracy, this will more than likely end his season.
It’s a tough blow for the 29-year-old hurler, who originally hit the IL alongside Garrett Whitlock in mid-August but hit multiple snags in his rehab. Slaten has dealt with several injuries throughout his career but proved to be a strong option late in games when available and at his best.
Finally, Tracy gave a big update on trade deadline pickup Curtis Mead’s progress from the broken wrist he suffered in his second plate appearance as a Red Sox on July 27th. Mead, who has been progressing through fielding drills over the past few weeks, will take the important step of swinging a bat again this week.
Tracy explained that the first session will include tee work using a light bat on Wednesday and he will “progress from there.” Mead will have to make incredible strides over the next two weeks to be considered an option for the postseason roster, especially considering the long layoff without seeing live pitching and no ability to get into a rehab game, but it is not out of the realm of possibility given his current timeline.
Also making strides toward a late-season return are right-handers Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo, and potentially Kutter Crawford. Houck struck out three and walked a batter in one inning in his rehab appearance for Triple-A Worcester, topping out at 94.2 mph. According to Tommy Cassell of Worcester T&G Sports, Oviedo, who has been out since March, is expected to pitch this week for the WooSox while Crawford’s name has been floated for a Hail Mary return as well.
As the Red Sox prepare for the seemingly imminent return to Yankee Stadium for the Wild Card round, it remains unclear who will be involved. But considering the tightly contested matchups between the two rivals over the years, more depth can never hurt.
Greatest Red Sox of All-Time
- 5 best hitters in Boston Red Sox history
- 5 best Red Sox pitchers of all-time
- 5 best shortstops in Red Sox history
- 5 best Red Sox outfielders of all-time
