The Red Sox will be without one of their most dependable late-inning arms for at least the next two weeks.
Boston placed right-hander Garrett Whitlock on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 10, because of right elbow inflammation. To cover the roster spot, the club recalled right-hander Greg Weissert from Triple-A Worcester.
Whitlock, 30, said the issue is not structural and eased concerns about the injury, but the Red Sox are still losing a pitcher who has been one of the best in their bullpen this season.
The numbers tell the story. Whitlock has worked 44 innings and posted a 2.05 ERA, while striking out 29.2% of the batters he’s faced and walking just 4.2%.
He has been even sharper since early May, allowing only four runs over his last 29 2/3 innings for a 1.21 ERA. In that span, he has issued just one walk to 106 hitters.
His ability to miss bats and get swings outside the zone has made him especially valuable. Among pitchers with at least 40 innings, Whitlock’s 42% chase rate leads all of baseball, just ahead of Tanner Scott at 40.2%. His 15.8% swinging-strike rate ranks 14th among 319 pitchers in that group.
That kind of production is a major loss for Boston’s relief corps, especially with Whitlock and closer Aroldis Chapman having formed one of baseball’s most dangerous late-inning pairings. For now, the Red Sox will have to get through the coming stretch without half of that duo.
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