Patrick Sandoval was in Boston today to undergo some testing after felt some left biceps soreness in the aftermath of his last minor league rehab outing. Red Sox manager Alex Cora didn’t have any info on the outcome of those tests when speaking with MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and other reporters earlier today, and it wasn’t yet known if Sandoval would even be formally pulled off his 30-day minor league rehab assignment. Sandoval has made two starts during the assignment as he continues to work his way back from an internal brace surgery in July 2024.
Kutter Crawford also hasn’t pitched since 2024 (due to wrist and knee injuries that cost him the entirety of the 2025 campaign), and the right-hander’s own rehab assignment has also been put on pause due to a new health concern. Crawford underwent an MRI today after he felt some elbow soreness following his first rehab outing, so both Crawford and Sandoval are currently in limbo as they await their next steps.
The Sox have avoided any injury setbacks within their starting five, though these setbacks for Sandoval and Crawford create more questions about the team’s rotation depth. Johan Oviedo is on the 60-day injured list due to a flexor strain, and recent call-up Tyler Uberstine is on the Triple-A injured list due to shoulder soreness. Top prospect Payton Tolle made his MLB debut last season and is Boston’s first option for a call-up if a need develops in the rotation.
Here’s more from around the AL East…
- Nathan Lukes has been battling vertigo symptoms for the last month, and visited a specialist in Phoenix on Friday to help combat the issue, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi writes. Lukes felt greatly improved following the session, and he responded by going 7-for-11 over the Blue Jays‘ three-game series with the Diamondbacks. It was a much-needed breakout series for the outfielder, who had just two hits and an ugly .182 OPS in his first 34 plate appearances. The Jays have been dealing with a lot of injuries and slumping hitters over the first few weeks, so getting Lukes right both physically and at the plate would be a big help in getting Toronto’s season on track.
- The Orioles are another struggling team with a crowded injured list, but the O’s should be getting some reinforcements back this week. Left-hander Dietrich Enns (foot infection) started a minor league rehab assignment yesterday, and fellow southpaw Keegan Akin (groin strain) has two rehab outings under his belt. The Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer wrote that Adley Rutschman (ankle inflammation) and Tyler O’Neill (concussion symptoms) were both running the bases prior to today’s game, in the latest step in their recovery processes. It isn’t yet known if either might need a brief rehab assignment before returning to the O’s, and Rutschman isn’t eligible to be activated from the 10-day IL until Tuesday at the earliest.
The Red Sox main problem is offense. Only Contreras, Abreu and Yoshida are hitting well. Devers (.581 OPS), Bregman (.623 OPS), Alonso (.664 OPS), K. Marte (.664 OPS) and Bichette (.538 OPS) would not have helped. E. Suarez (.743 OPS) would have helped a little, but he has put up this OPS while DHing in 75% of the games he’s played. I think above average hitters are really hard to find these days. Crochet’s control or pitch tipping problem and Bello’s bad start is their second biggest problem. Not much is going well. Ranger Suarez looks like a good signing.
Agreed, Cora needs to get a better lineup and work with who is doing something at the plate. Durbin has no business batting 2nd at all right now, as he did in the cards and twins series. Story doesn’t need to hit cleanup right now, yet that is still happening. Anthony needs to drop down to 3rd, hes not a leadoff hitter. Get Duran, who isnt hitting but can run(maybe lay down a bunt on occasion half joking) and Rafaela ahead of him. Then Contreras and Abreu. Start there. Fill out the bottom accordingly with a combo of story, 2nd, durbin and Catcher. Wong and Monasterio should play more but I understand why they aren’t. Narvaez calls a good game and has the defense but man he looks lost at the plate and late on everything. Mayer needs the ABs, being so young and not to sit. But those positions SS,2nd, and 3rd, which is half the lineup, are killing the offense. Just one man’s opinion.
This idea that Roman Anthony isn’t a leadoff hitter is wrong. In fact Roman Anthony has been a leadoff hitter almost exclusively his entire pro career. In the minors he was a very high on base guy who took a lot of pitches, didn’t chase much, was an excellent base runner and hit the ball really hard. At this point I think Boston needs to shake things up and move on from Fatse. The Red Sox overall team batting approach just hasn’t been good under him and needs to change I think he’s a big part of the problem.
In ominous Worcester news Tolle didn’t make his scheduled weekend pitching appearance I’m hearing due to bicep tightness. With Sandoval, Crawford, Uberstine, and now Tolle out for who knows how long it’s just Jake Bennett left as pitching depth right now in AAA.
Bruin:
“In ominous Worcester news Tolle didn’t make his scheduled weekend pitching appearance I’m hearing due to bicep tightness.”
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Where did you “hear” this? Im reading in 3 or 4 spots, it was “In case of he was needed for a Double Header in Boston due to rain. (NESN, MassLive, Sports Ill) Please backup the rumor. Are you FPGing us?
Sandoval had bicep.tightness not tolle if im reading right
I think he say the Herald’s clickbait, as did I:
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“Boston Herald
Injured Red Sox left-hander being evaluated for bicep …
18 hours ago — Top pitching prospect Payton Tolle was scheduled to pitch for Worcester this weekend as well but is being held back in case he’s needed for a ..”
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They’re talking about 2 separate pitchers in that mashup.
Me thinks, Tolle is being lined up to take Crochet’s place in the Red Sox rotation. I see Crochet going for tests and a short IL stint (hopefully), while Tolle takes his place.
Is Fatse still the hitting coach? There’s 50% of your answer.
For a second there I thought Pablo was making a comeback.
Those “reinforcements” will not help the orioles. They are in need of 2 or 3 professional hitters. There are too many “defensive wizards” and “interchangeable position players” on the roster. All of whome bat near .200. And it’s time to admit that Cowser is another outfield bust..
Yup! Just one of the many overrated Orioles minor leaguers in the last few years (and *not* arguably the best one, now playing in Miami)!
Guess you forgot about Gunnar.
Rutchman was hitting .290+ with his prior contact approach.
2 lefties are sorely missed in the pen
Watch some games…
I’ll go halfway on this.
Mayo and Cowser have had plenty of opportunity to show that they can hit major league pitching. They aren’t getting fastballs in the zone any longer and can’t hit breaking balls. Like Mike Young in the mid 80s, they flashed skill but haven’t been able to adjust back after the league adjusted to them. I don’t think either is a viable MLB hitter.
Basallo is heading down that path but has more time. He needs to start showing progress. Defensively he also needs a lot of work.
Rutschman looked a lot better in ST and first games until getting hurt. Hopefully he has turned the corner but we’ll see once he’s back.
Thank goodness for Jeremiah Jackson, Gunnar, and Ward. They’ve been driving the offense. They need more drivers and less passengers. But the offense overall? Taking more walks is better but way, way too many unproductive K’s caused by all-or-nothing approach.
The starting pitching isn’t looking great. Not a single starter is under 4 ERA. Bassitt is not showing MLB quality starting, Baz hasn’t impressed, Bradish is not up to snuff, Rogers is regressing to the mean (to be expected), Kremer is Kremer. Makes it tougher for an incomplete offense when they’re behind early and often.
They’re fortunate to be sniffing .500 right now but we’ll see what happens when the regulars are back. Schedule gets tougher too.
Basallo is a top-tier hitting prospect. Just give him time and he’ll be fine.
So was Mayo.
Hopefully Basallo’s defense turns around as that extension is not as good a deal for a DH only type.
Cowser (933 MLB AB) has had ample opportunity to display progress. Mayo (358) is getting there and should be showing it but he’s worse so far this spring. Both look to be guessing out there.
I imagine the leash will be longer with Basallo having the extension.
Cowser was hurt most of last year. This year, some of the same but was up to .241 which is around league avg. Still he’d be better in lf than cf.
Happy Patriots Day!!! One day I’ll get there!! Sure and the hell can’t run a marathon!!
olm – You’ll love it! Bars are packed by 10AM. I used to go every year for decades, it was a paid holiday. Thankfully the one year I missed was 2013 because I had to finish remodeling my house to put on the market.
Dozen Days!!!!
Fever- Saw in the box score that Sonny was pulled due to an injury. Do you know anything about the extent of the injury. Nearly all of their depth seems to be injured aside from Tolle, they can’t afford to have an injury to a starter especially with Crochet still looking off.
Uncle – As soon as it happened I thought of his injury history, 10 injuries since 2020 and 4 of them were hammys. It looked like a hammy, and that’s what they are now saying it is.
Those prior hammy injuries cost him 2-4 starts each. So if you go by history, he shouldn’t be out long. Then again, he was 32 & 34 then …. he’s 36 now, so could take longer to recover.
How ‘bout those Bruins. Complete choke job.
Slider – UCLA hasn’t been the same without Wooden.
Spoked B in 6 over Buffalo’s Sword fighters
Don’t like hearing when someone has vertigo. That can end career or life when it gets bad.
Once the Jays were able to figure out Lukes’ vertigo, Nathan’s been swinging a hot bat. They needed it.
FIRE CORA AND THE HITTING COACH IT’S TIME‼️
FIRE CORA AND THE HITTING COACH IT’S TIME‼️
FIRE CORA AND THE HITTING COACH IT’S TIME‼️
FIRE CORA AND THE HITTING COACH IT’S TIME‼️
FIRE CORA AND THE HITTING COACH IT’S TIME‼️