Prior to yesterday’s game, the Red Sox placed left-hander Brennan Bernardino on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to September 10) due to a left lat strain. Southpaw Chris Murphy was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move, and Murphy tossed a scoreless inning in Friday’s 4-1 Sox loss to the Yankees.
Bernardino hasn’t pitched since September 6, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith) that the injury only arose this past Wednesday in the final game of Boston’s series with the Athletics. “Playing catch the last day in Sacramento, [he] felt something grab him below the shoulder, so he had an MRI yesterday,” Cora said.
The severity of the strain wasn’t specified, and it isn’t known if Bernardino will be able to make it back before the end of the regular season. Given the backdated placement, the earliest the lefty could be activated is September 25, which would make him available for Boston’s final four games of the schedule.
The larger question, of course, is whether Bernardino’s status could be in question for a first-round playoff roster, should the Red Sox clinch at least a wild card berth. While Bernardino hasn’t pitched many high-leverage innings this year, the Sox naturally want as many healthy arms as possible when deciding their optimal October roster.
Bernardino has a strong 3.14 ERA over 51 2/3 frames for the Sox in 2025, but a 4.50 SIERA indicates some red flags behind that excellent bottom-line result. Between his .252 BABIP and his ability to induce soft contact, Bernardino’s ability to keep the ball on the ground (49.7% grounder rate) has again been his biggest strength. However, Bernardino’s 19.2% strikeout rate is well below average, and his 11.6% walk rate is only in the sixth percentile of all pitchers. The left-hander has battled control problems in the past, yet his strikeout rate has been steadily declining over his three full Major League seasons.
Yet Walker Buehler was dealing for the Phillies last night….. I predict the Sox don’t even make the playoffs…. and it still won’t be enough to get rid of the Clown in the Dugout.
Agree Sox are not playing well and won’t challemge for the division or get home field in WC round, but it’s extremely likely (90%+) they will make the playoffs.
I think the biggest problem is the Red Sox offense really misses Anthony and Abreu. Agreed they should make the playoffs.
All, that is 100% right this team misses Anthony he’s already the most important player on this team. Romy was the guy that really picked it up after Anthony went down and they have really missed him. Hopefully he can play today and him along with Refsnyder need to mash against Fried. Bregman really has to step up as well he’s really struggled for an extended period of time now they need him now. This is a really big game today need this one to quiet the seeds of doubt.
Yeah, that PROSPECT is already the most importanr player on the team.
The Sox certainly have had their share of bad luck between the significant number of injuries to key position players and pitchers and the bats going cold on most of the team. There may have been some better options to pick up at the deadline both in offense and pitching, but I understand that teams were overpaying for those who were readily available and most of them were not difference makers.
Bregman never really getting back to being the full offensive threat he was before getting injured has not helped. Maybe a couple of players will heat back up and the young arms will continue getting better.
Yes Hammerin if you had a clue one you would realize Anthony is no longer prospect and two yes he’s already the most important player on the team. Look at the record with Anthony and without then look at the offensive numbers with and without.
Bob – I totally agree, Sox pitching is way too good and the remaining schedule is easy.
@FPG: Are you trying to jinx them? “Remaining schedule is easy” I suggest you put a double reverse whammy on that immediately.
Butters – Haha sorry! I respect your belief in superstition, I’m sometimes a believer too … moreso in karma 😉
Alex Cora has proven he is not an effective game manager. His lineups are head-scratchers at times and his handling of the bullpen is predictable and disastrous. However, the players seem to love him.
The Sox dismal record in one-run games is a testament to Cora’s poor management skills, but the FO has him locked up for two more years and about $14 million… Unfortunately, he’s not going anywhere.
A dismal record in one-run games is usually just an indicator of some bad luck.
5 innings isn’t exactly dealing. Let’s see what his next start looks like
Sucks that Bernardino is injured. Has seemed a bit off lately, maybe too many innings. Hopefully he is back soon.
Buehler did get a win, which is more than we could say about what May has done lately before his injury. Not saying Buehler is going to be any more successful than he was in Boston, but still wonder if May was any better than what we had in Buehler. Hopefully it won’t matter and our young pitchers will get the job done.
Cooper…”Dealing”? .first of all the guy was hot trash pitching in Boston.and come on..he went 5 innings if that’s the current definition of “dealing” what in the heck do you call what crochet has been doing all year?.. it certainly blows “dealing” out of the water..
And based on math and current odds they most definitely are making the playoffs no matter how much you hate cora..fwiw cora is a big part of why they will make the playoffs
Cora is a fine manager.
They have 3 games versus Detroit, 3 versus the Jays, 2 more against the NY and a 3 game lead over Texas who last 3 series are against the Marlins, Twins and Cleveland. Other than 3 versus the Astros, Texas plays really nobody.
POOLHALL….Since the damn Sox game was Apple TV and not on Direct TV, I actually watched the Phillies game and Buehler pitched well… Did you watch the game or are you just another guy that thinks Stats tell the whole story?
If you go by Stats, there are many Stats out there that show how Cora doesn’t have a clue how to manage a Bull Pen, or the one where the team is once again a terrible defensive team, or the 1 run game win or loss record. How about the last 3 years of .500 or worse records? If they blow it again this year, what will your excuse be for Cora?
Listen, I get it, the players like him. That’s fine and dandy but the results are not there. At what time is it time for a different voice? I don’t hate Cora…. I hate his Managerial Decisions, I hate his dumb ever changing lineups, I hate his predictable late game decisions.
Breslow is going to Hire a GM in the Off Season…. promote Cora in that role if it gets him out of the dugout… I would be fine with that.,
Cooper i watched the sox on apple.
So only saw the stats line.
I never said he didn’t pitch well I just questioned your definition of “dealing” in my view you make late it into the game if you are pitching well enough to be considered to have “dealt” as a starter..so yea imo he was very far from “dealing” ..thats all and coras pen from a results perspective has been one of the best in all mlb this year what are you evening talking about with that..do you watch?..i agree results matter but thats not just on cora you have to have good players to win..and no this is not the same team they have had the past 3 years 1 the pitching is mostly different and better 2 there was no bregman story Anthony narvaez etc the past several years..again..do you watch??
Yeah I watch… very closely… and if you can’t see how badly Cora mismanages the bullpen, then so be it. I see a bunch of excuses from your “Perspective”.
I have a neighbor who I hang out with and discuss baseball regularly and have become good friends with over the past 10 + years. He was a MLB player and Manager for many years and knows Cora very well. He shakes his head constantly about Cora’s use of the bull pen and his overuse of platoon players FYI, he managed the Astros, A’s and Mets for a total of 13 years… you can figure out who it is….
Cooper im glad you and your neighbor watch as do me and mine and recognize it’s very easy to criticize management decisions in just about every game of every team every day. And Mr cora is an active mlb manager so whether you agree with youbtwo him or not doesn’t really matter as he has the job and long term contract. All that said the numbers don’t lie thier relievers overall performance has been top 10 in mlb all season..now you can argue usage etc all day but they are in playoff contention and numbers look solid and have equated to wins..so..not sure how much you and your neighbor care about wins..but to the non experts like me winning the game is all that matters no matter how it gets accomplished
Buehler was dealing after having to watch Tijuan Walker all year because of that stupid contact
Are they going to make the playoffs?
Romy Gonzales, hopefully will be back in the lineup this afternoon. He has been the Sox best hitter the last few weeks. 12 game hitting steak .392/407/471 slash line.
Bello has been very good against the empire in his career. Win this one and curb the worries..
Abreu is supposed to return on Monday which is more good news.
Cdc – Of course he and Ref will, they are facing a lefty.
God, I hope so. My Yahoo fantasy team needs his batting average skills after going 2 for 31 yesterday.
Suit
The sooner the better. Sometimes this lineup looks anemic.
Sometimes? Gonzalez and Story are the only guys hitting the ball right now. This is not a good time for Duran, Rafaela and Bregman to be scuffling. They have two weeks to get back on track. The good news is that with the Yankees remaining schedule against bad teams, the Sox will be playing the WC series in Toronto vs. the Blue Jays instead of vs. the Yankees in NY.
To be honest, I’d rather play the Yankees in NY versus the Blue Jays in Toronto in Round 1. They have owned us up there!
FM
Hopefully Romy is back in there today vs the lefty Fried. He has been out best hitter for a couple weeks. I like our chances with Bello and Crochet going in the next 2.
Cdc – Agreed, look at the numbers last night … Bregman is the ONLY Sox player in the lineup with an OPS over .773 while the Yankees have SIX!!!
Wow, that’s not good for Boston.
Murphy has done a good job on the limited service he’s provided. Should be an upgrade at this point.
It drives me nuts watching Hamilton, I know he’s fast , but he needs to get on base for that to matter. His defense is not very good and he’s just a weak link. At the very least he should learn to BUNT! Sox are becoming famous for trotting weak links out on the diamond every year and they stick with them way too long like Bobby D! I hope they can turn it around and take the next two games!
Hard to justify giving Hamilton playing time when he can’t hit. Wish they had one of those super utility guys like they have at times in the past who is strong defensively and also provides some offense. With his speed I always hoped Hamilton would get there, but he just can’t get on base.
Here is a good video of Adam Ottavino breaking down Connelly Early’s start:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=i7wDgXUGTEo
Great watch thanks for posting
The lineup today on paper was brutal. This team needs Anthony and Abreu back ASAP. And as much as I agree that he needed to go, this lineup is really missing Devers bat right now.