The Boston Red Sox are preparing for a crucial game against the Baltimore Orioles. Left fielder Tyler O’Neill has been dealing with a knee injury, and the team updated his status before Wednesday evening’s game.
According to Ian Browne, the Red Sox have placed O’Neill on the 10-day injured list due to right knee inflammation. O’Neill, who has been experiencing knee soreness, will now have more time for treatment. The hope is that he and the medical staff can manage the issue effectively.
O’Neill’s knee problems intensified during the Red Sox’s May 25th game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite Boston’s 6-3 loss, O’Neill was removed from the lineup earlier in the game. He explained that he had been struggling with the knee issue for a while but felt it more acutely during his last swing when his cleat seemed to get caught in the batter’s box.
“I’ve been grinding through it for a little bit. Felt it more so on that last swing that I took kind of coming out of the box. Feel like my cleat got caught or something in the batter’s box there. So it didn’t feel too good,” O’Neill told Christopher Smith of MassLive.
O’Neill has not played since that game, but with proper treatment and recovery, he hopes to return and support Boston’s offense. The 28-year-old has a .236 batting average, 11 home runs, and 17 RBIs, with an .843 OPS, which ranks 24th in the league.
The Red Sox will miss O’Neill in their final series game against the Orioles. However, they remain capable of overcoming their challenges.
Red Sox aim to stay above .500 in the final Orioles series game of late May. Boston entered Wednesday night’s game at 28-27, just above the .500 mark. After losing 11-3 to Baltimore on Monday, they bounced back with an 8-3 win on Tuesday. The Sox are looking to maintain their momentum and secure another victory against their AL East rivals.
Baltimore, with a 34-19 record, will be a tough opponent, led by Adley Rutschman, who ranks in the top 20 in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. Boston aims to counter Rutschman and the rest of the Orioles’ offensive threats.
Right-hander Tanner Houck is expected to lead Boston’s pitching effort against the Orioles. Houck, with a 1.90 ERA, ranks third in the league. The Red Sox will need a strong performance from everyone to contain Baltimore, but they have the potential to succeed.
This matchup will be pivotal, especially with Tyler O’Neill’s injury update. If the Red Sox can unite and execute their game plan, they can end the series with a win. Following the Orioles matchup, Boston will face the Detroit Tigers in a four-game series. The Red Sox hope to avoid fatigue and continue climbing the NL East standings.
