Connelly Early’s elbow checkup brought some relief to Boston, even if the timeline remains fuzzy.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters on Friday, including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, that a follow-up appointment with Dr. Keith Meister showed no structural damage in Early’s throwing elbow.
The rookie left-hander has been on the 15-day injured list since July 1 because of inflammation. In a later update, Cotillo reported that there still isn’t a timetable for Early to start throwing again because the discomfort has not yet subsided.
Early’s absence came before Boston’s current nine-game winning streak, but his work has already mattered plenty in keeping the club afloat. He has posted a 3.44 ERA with a 23.8% strikeout rate and an 8.7% walk rate across 91 2/3 innings this season.
Along with fellow rookies Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett, he has helped carry a rotation that has been dealing with Garrett Crochet’s injury absence and Brayan Bello’s struggles. Boston has kept winning even with Ranger Suarez now also on the 15-day IL, and if Suarez and Early can return soon, the Red Sox appear positioned to keep their push going.
Elsewhere in the AL East, Max Scherzer is moving closer to another shot with Toronto. Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling was among those to report that Scherzer is scheduled to throw a rehab start with the Blue Jays’ FCL team on Tuesday.
That outing would follow two earlier minor league rehab starts in which he allowed six earned runs over seven innings. If Tuesday goes well, the Blue Jays appear likely to activate him once the second half opens.
Scherzer’s season has been rough by any measure. The future Hall of Famer has a 10.23 ERA in 22 innings over six major league starts, and he has already had two trips to the injured list.
He returned from the first one to make a start on June 10, only to be shut down again by back spasms. At this point, Toronto can only hope he can contribute and stay on the mound, with swingman Spencer Miles seemingly lined up as the backup plan whenever Scherzer is ready.
In Tampa Bay, Jake Fraley’s rehab has hit another snag. Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters, including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, that Fraley is again having issues tied to his recent hernia surgery and that his minor league rehab assignment has been stopped so he can see a specialist.
Fraley had the procedure in mid-May and was expected to miss six to eight weeks. He got into five games on rehab before this latest setback. Before landing on the IL, he was hitting .232/.300/.390 in 90 plate appearances, and his continued absence only increases the likelihood that the Rays will look for outfield help at the trade deadline.
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