Red Sox Injury Update: Ortiz, Bard & Bailey
The Red Sox are hanging around the Wild Card race and are doing so lately without the services of David Ortiz. Big Papi went on the DL on July 16 with an achilles strain and the injury is taking it’s sweet time in healing. As a result, Ortiz had an injection on Monday to help alleviate the pain and swelling in an attempt to get the slugger back on the field sooner than later.
The injection will force Ortiz to refrain from doing any activities but the Red Sox are hoping that he can return to the lineup on Thursday when the club travels to Cleveland to take on the Indians. Ortiz made it public that he doesn’t want to rush back to the lineup and jeopardize his career with the injury
In other Red Sox injury news, Vicente Padilla will need a day or two of rest after suffering a slight groin pull along with bicep and tricep issues. Maybe that explains the meatballs he’s been throwing over the plate over the past week (speaking more on the Texeira home run).
Remember Andrew Bailey? He was the bonified closer that the Red Sox acquired and gave up the mashing outfielder, Josh Reddick in return. Reddick is likely to hit 30 home runs in Oakland of all places and Bailey has yet to throw a pitch for Boston this season. But the report on Bailey is positive as he’s scheduled to work in back-to-back outings this week and is said to be progressing nicely.
Daniel Bard, another forgotten name in the Red Sox organization is still in triple-A Pawtucket and still trying to avoid hitting batters. The latest report on Bard is he’s progressing nicely despite a shaky second inning after a dominant first inning. Valentine thinks that Bard is close to returning to Boston and if he can be effective, adding a dominating Bard to the bullpen is better than any acquisition the team could make.
Scott Atchison‘s season is in the balance. The reliever is awaiting word on his latest examination as to whether he’ll need Tommy John Surgery or a simple rehab assignment will be enough to salvage the veteran’s season. Atchison is dealing with a forearm and elbow injury and has been out of action since early July.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is likely in his last couple of months as a member of the Red Sox, made his second rehab start for Pawtucket. Dice-K, who is recovering from a trapezius strain, surrendered four runs (one earned) on on five hits, while giving up one walk and three strikeouts in three innings pitched. There is no word as to when Dice-K will be ready to rejoin the big club, not that he would have a spot given the success of Felix Doubront, Clay Buchholz and Franklin Morales.
All injury updates were courtesy of ESPNBoston.com.