The Boston Red Sox have faced numerous injury setbacks in the early stages of the 2024 season, but there’s some relief on the horizon.
Since April 24, the Red Sox have been missing three starters due to injuries. It started with Brayan Bello being placed on the 15-day injured list due to lat tightness, followed by Nick Pivetta’s flexor strain, and Garrett Whitlock’s oblique strain.
Pivetta took a step towards his return by making his first rehab start with the WooSox on May 2, with the expectation of rejoining the big-league club soon. Bello is also progressing towards his return, slated to make his first rehab start in Portland on May 7. Manager Alex Cora anticipates Bello will only need one rehab start before coming back.
Whitlock is also making strides towards rejoining the lineup, having completed his first bullpen session on May 4 during the series against the Twins. Cora mentioned he will require more preparation before his return.
On the other hand, the Red Sox have been without Masataka Yoshida since he injured his hand during an at-bat against the Cubs on April 29. He was placed on the IL with a thumb strain on May 1, and there were initial mixed messages about the severity of his injury. Now, surgery is being considered, and Yoshida will seek a second opinion on May 8.
Rob Refsnyder, who has been performing well since recovering from a fractured pinky toe, was pulled from the May 5 game against the Twins due to hamstring tightness. Cora indicated it was a precautionary measure, expressing confidence that Refsnyder won’t require another stint on the IL. This is particularly positive news for the Red Sox, given Refsnyder’s effectiveness against left-handed pitchers like Chris Sale, whom they are scheduled to face.
