The Red Sox’s five-game skid got worse Wednesday night, and the late-inning damage wasn’t the only concern coming out of the loss.
Boston was tied 1-1 heading into the eighth before the bullpen unravelled, with the Blue Jays putting up five runs in the frame on the way to a 6-4 win. The bigger surprise, though, was who wasn’t available when the game tightened up: Garrett Whitlock.
After the game, interim manager Chad Tracy said Whitlock was unavailable because of elbow inflammation.
“He was down,” Tracy said. “He's dealing with a little bit of inflammation in his elbow so we have to check in and see where we're at there.”
Tracy added that the issue has been something Whitlock has battled on and off this season.
“He's dealing with a little bit of inflammation in his elbow... it's been a hit and miss thing that's come about...”
Whitlock later addressed the elbow concern himself, with his comments transcribed by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.
“I don’t think there’s anything structurally wrong with it. My concern for need of any drastic measures is very low," Whitlock said.
That’s obviously better than the alternative, but any elbow news involving a pitcher gets your attention fast. Whitlock has been one of Boston’s most important bullpen arms this year, logging 45 appearances with a 2.05 ERA across 44 innings. He’s been one of the club’s top setup men, and if this turns into missed time, it’s a real problem for a team already trying to stop the slide.
The timing isn’t ideal, either. Boston has one more game against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon before opening a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Whitlock’s injury history only adds to the concern. In 2023, he was limited to 22 games, including 10 starts, because of right elbow ulnar neuritis and right elbow inflammation.
In 2024, he appeared in just four games before undergoing an internal brace procedure to repair his elbow. He also missed time earlier this season with a knee issue.
For now, the Red Sox are waiting for more clarity, and Whitlock’s own read on the situation is encouraging. The team announced the inflammation on Wednesday, and he said his concern level is “very low.”
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