Red Sox right-hander Justin Slaten hit the IL with an oblique strain, the team announced. Left-hander Tyler Samaniego was recalled to take his spot in the bullpen. Samaniego was acquired from the Pirates as part of the trade that sent Jhostynxon Garcia to Pittsburgh. If he appears in a game, it will be his big-league debut.
Slaten has been a reliable member of Boston’s bullpen when healthy, but injuries have been a consistent issue. He missed time in 2024 with elbow inflammation. Shoulder inflammation cost him nearly three months last year. Slaten told reporters, including Christopher Smith of MassLive.com, that the oblique injury popped up during his outing on Saturday.
“This is the third year that I’ve had to miss time,” Slaten said. “I can promise you like no one’s more upset or feels worse about than me. Part of our job is to be healthy for 162.” The Red Sox do not believe it’s a significant injury and have not scheduled imaging for Slaten.
Samaniego came over from Pittsburgh along with right-hander Johan Oviedo and catcher Adonys Guzman in December. He made a case to break camp with Boston after cruising through 5 1/3 scoreless innings in MLB Spring Training, but ultimately began the year with Triple-A Worcester. Samaniego allowed two earned runs over three appearances with the WooSox prior to his promotion.
The Pirates took Samaniego with a 15th-round pick in 2021. He put together a strong first full season in the pro ranks, compiling a 2.45 ERA between High-A and Double-A. The lefty racked up 14 saves in 38 appearances. Samaniego scuffled in a repeat of Double-A in 2023, then went down with an elbow injury the following season. He bounced back with a healthy 2025, recording a 3.99 ERA across 38.1 innings spanning four minor league levels. Samaniego gives Boston a fourth lefty in the bullpen, along with closer Aroldis Chapman and middle relievers Danny Coulombe and Jovani Moran.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Doster, Imagn Images
Kind of strange lineup for today’s game. Monasterio batting 2nd. IKF in there after failing to run out a grounder to 3rd. We,Story needed that 2 RBI double badly yesterday.Sonny Gray pitches good today and we take our 1st series of the year.
I guess I’m ok with the line-up. AC loves his L/R match-ups.
I don’t like that Duran seems to be the odd man out when they have to do their rotating. I doubt they’ll ever have a good procedure on who sits, etc. I guess he’ll sit vs every LHP.
And old friend Shane Drohan on the mound for MIL. Storylines everywhere!
Would love a series win before they hit the road again.
Swan
I want Duran in the lineup every game. He can make things happen with his aggressiveness,speed.. Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy doesn’t seem to care about lefty/rightly matchups at all .
Duran is really bad against LHP. I like having him around off the bench to pinch hit vs. a RHP or pinch run when a lefty starts.
@MeowMeow Thanks. This is perhaps how I should utilize him on my fantasy team. He is someone I always want in there, but maybe perhaps he is just a platoon guy after all. Dang.
cdc – hi!
They are facing a LHP today, that’s why. So Cora benches Yoshida yet again, when he should have played yesterday against the LHP.
It’s another dumb move by the Brewers, having the kid make his MLB debut against the team that knows him better than anyone. But the Brewers are good at “fixing” former Sox players, so who knows …. maybe they already “fixed” Drohan.
Starting against your former team is probably a benefit to the Brewers since they have most likely tweaked his arsenal. The scouting report on him is probably not the same
FPG
Interesting with the Drohan making his debut against the team that traded him . Maybe they view that as a sort of motivation????? I personally feel like Duran should be in there everyday.. any comment on IKF being in there ??. Old school Don Baylor would have fined him in the Kangaroo court for not running out of the box on a grounder to 3rd.. I’m surprised he is playing today.
Just supervised a workout this morning of 8 times 150 meters with 45 seconds recovery. If he can’t run hard for 90 feet maybe he needs to join the track team. Today wasn’t that hard.
Hate to see IKF in there today, sends a bad message to the team about what level of effort will be tolerated/accepted. If standing there watching a grounder that was in play is not going to be punished, I don’t think we are setting the best example for the young guys.
Even if you believe everything contributing to the poor start is a matter of bad luck more than being a skill issue, luck comes to the prepared. Allowing a lackadaisical attitude like that to set in is not going to help create any good luck.
To update myself, I’ll give him credit he earns some points back for that nice bunt he just dropped down and legged out. That’s more like it!
FPG
Great work from the pen and starter yesterday. Not our high leverage guys coming out of the pen and getting it done.. With an off day today ,it gives them a couple days of rest. Needed this one badly… Should be able to take 2 of 3 from the lowly Cardinals.
Less than thirty days ago, the big question was who was going to be the second lefty behind Chapman in the bullpen? And now they have four on their current MLB roster.