The Red Sox may be getting a big bullpen boost back soon, and Garrett Whitlock is moving in the right direction.
Whitlock has been sidelined since Aug. 9 because of elbow inflammation, but he’s now traveling with the club and is lined up to throw a live bullpen on Wednesday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Smith wrote on X Monday, "Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock is on the [trip] and will throw a live BP here Wednesday,"
That puts the next step for Whitlock right in the middle of Boston’s road trip. The Red Sox opened a three-game set against the Miami Marlins on Monday night, and that series runs through Wednesday, which is when Whitlock is expected to work in Miami if everything stays on schedule.
After that, Boston heads to Yankee Stadium for a four-game series against the New York Yankees beginning Thursday. The Red Sox then won’t return to Fenway Park until Monday, Aug. 31, when they start a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners.
Over the weekend, it was already reported that Whitlock had been throwing at 120 feet and that a bullpen session was close. Now the live bullpen appears to be the next checkpoint, and what happens after that will tell the real story for Boston.
His presence on the road trip adds another layer to the situation. In an ideal setup, the Red Sox could have him back on the mound during the Yankees series.
That series includes a doubleheader on Saturday, and Boston will need to cover 18 innings. Getting the 30-year-old back by then would make life easier.
Still, it would be a little surprising if he returned without a rehab assignment. Everything, though, depends on how Wednesday goes.
Before the injury, Whitlock was putting together another dominant season. He owns a 2.05 ERA and a 49-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 44 innings.
That strikeout-to-walk number jumps off the page, especially when you compare it to his previous career best of 5.54 strikeouts per walk in 2023, when he did that over 22 games. This year, he has appeared in 45 games and is at 7.00 strikeouts per walk.
There just aren’t many relievers in baseball having a better year.
For now, the signs are pointing toward a return being close. Wednesday should reveal a lot more.
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