The Red Sox are pumping the brakes on Ranger Suárez, but the move doesn’t sound like a red flag.
After Boston beat the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night, interim manager Chad Tracy said Suárez was expected to come off the Injured List and start Tuesday night against Baltimore. That plan changed by Tuesday afternoon, when Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reported that Suárez was no longer slated to start and that Eduardo Rivera would take the ball instead.
"Ranger Suárez will not start against the Orioles tonight," Healey wrote. "The Red Sox announced Eduardo Rivera will do so."
MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo added that the decision was not viewed as a major setback.
"No substantial setback for Ranger Suárez, I’m told. Red Sox felt like he pushed himself pretty hard testing the groin over the last couple days and wanted to give him at least another day," Cotillo wrote.
Suárez last pitched on July 5 against the Los Angeles Angels before landing on the Injured List with a left groin strain.
The timing may have worked in Boston’s favor anyway. The weather around Fenway Park is expected to be rough, with rain in the area, temperatures in the 70s and a chance of showers, thunder and lightning throughout the day.
First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET, and the forecast calls for overcast conditions at that time before thunderstorms move in during the 8 and 9 o’clock hours.
There’s even a real chance the game doesn’t get played at all. For a pitcher just returning from the Injured List, that kind of uncertainty is the last thing you want.
If Suárez had warmed up and then had to stop because of a delay or postponement, that would have been less than ideal. And with a groin injury in the mix, there’s little reason to push it in messy weather.
Rivera has already worked as an opener twice for Boston. In six innings in that role, he has allowed three runs total.
If the game goes on, he should be fine. And if the weather cooperates, Suárez may still be lined up to pitch Wednesday instead.
In Other News...
Red Sox Pitching Plans Take Another Brutal Turn Midstreak
Bostons pitching depth took another hit Monday as the club adjusted its plans for the July 21 game against Baltimore, turning to Eduardo Rivera for the start while continuing to wait on Ranger Suarez. Suarez is still on the injured list with a groin issue, another reminder of how thin the rotation picture has become as the Red Sox try to piece together innings on the fly.
The roster churn did not stop there. Reliever Zack Kelly was moved to the 60-day injured list because of elbow inflammation, a move that opened a 40-man roster spot but also deepened the sense that Boston is simply trying to stay afloat amid a string of pitching absences. Rivera has made three appearances for the Red Sox, and for now he is part of a staff that keeps having to absorb one more setback after another. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Crochet Just Raised A Chilling Red Sox Rotation Concern
Garrett Crochets shoulder issue has become a far more complicated Red Sox concern than anyone could have expected when he first landed on the injured list in late April. What was supposed to be a short-term absence has dragged on, and the left-hander said the injury has not improved the way he initially hoped, leaving him without a clear timeline for getting back on a mound.
Crochet has since backed off his rehab work after his progress plateaued, including a step back from throwing plyo balls as the training staff takes a cautious approach. He said the injury is complex and he is simply following the plan in front of him while trying to stay connected to the club from the sidelines, even as Boston keeps rolling without him. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Linked To The Blockbuster Move Fans Wanted
With the Red Sox three games above .500 and riding a 14-game winning streak, the conversation around Boston has shifted from simply staying in the Wild Card race to wondering whether Craig Breslow might be willing to chase something bigger. That has opened the door to some aggressive speculation, including the idea that the club could be in the mix for a major upgrade if the right opportunity presents itself.
Around the league, Boston has been mentioned as a possible fit in trade chatter involving a star Mets infielder, a kind of move that would instantly change the complexion of the roster if it ever got serious. The obstacle is obvious, though, because any deal of that magnitude would have to clear a long list of hurdles, and for now it remains just that kind of rumor - the sort that says as much about Bostons ambition as it does about the odds of a deal actually getting done. [Read more 🡒]