Ranger Suarez’s back issue has put the Boston Red Sox in a familiar spot: trying to patch together a rotation that keeps taking hits.
Suarez left Sunday’s 7-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels after feeling what he described as a “big pinch” while throwing an 88-mph cutter. He stayed in long enough to get through one more pitch, a 75-mph curve to Jo Adell that turned into an infield single on a high chopper past the mound, but he was gone before Jose Siri stepped in. The diagnosis afterward was a strained left adductor, and now the Red Sox are waiting to see whether it affects his chance to pitch in the July 14 All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
After the game, Suarez laid out the sequence in comments to the media.
"With that pitch that I threw, I felt a big pinch around the ground area," said Suarez, as reported by Yahoo Sports. "I tried to throw another pitch, but still felt it.
It's only been two hours. The training staff wants to see how I feel (Monday) or the next day, then we'll make a decision on where we go from there."
The timing is rough for Boston, which improved to 40-48 but still sits in last place in the AL East, 12.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. It also comes with the Red Sox already short on starting pitching, having lost a second starter in the span of a week.
Interim manager Chad Tracy had Monday’s off day to sort through the options before the final stretch leading into the All-Star break. Connelly Early is dealing with left elbow discomfort after leaving his last outing, and while early tests showed elbow inflammation, the 24-year-old is scheduled to see specialists for more testing this week. Patrick Sandoval is expected to be activated before Tuesday’s game at the Chicago White Sox and could even start Saturday at the New York Mets.
Another possibility is Brayan Bello, who could be called up from Triple-A Worcester. In eight International League starts, Bello has a 4.34 ERA with four walks in 18.1 innings.
Suarez, who was voted into the All-Star Game for a second time, said his attention is on getting back into Boston’s rotation. He missed the 2024 midseason classic because of injury, and he made it clear that’s not where his mind is right now.
"Right now, I'm not thinking about that," said Suarez. "For me, the most important thing is just to be as healthy as possible for the second half. I'm not thinking about anything other than that."
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