Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez has been added to the COVID IL
This isn’t the news that the Red Sox or the fanbase wanted to hear tonight. J.D. Martinez has been added to the COVID IL after having cold-like symptoms today. Luckily, Boston skipper Alex Cora believes that Martinez will be back in the lineup as early as tomorrow afternoon as the team monitors the slugger’s status.
Originally set to DH today, Martinez was pulled once he had to enter the COVID protocol and was replaced by Christian Vazquez. Cora gave an update on the matter and again reiterated that the organization doesn’t believe that J.D. is positive for the virus. If he can pass both the PCR and Rapid tests then he’ll get the green light to get back in the batter’s box for tomorrow’s lunchtime finale with the Orioles.
"“We’ll have more information throughout the night or tomorrow morning,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We feel pretty confident that he will be able to be with us tomorrow. But obviously we have to wait.”"
The Red Sox can’t afford to be without Martinez for any length of time, especially with the way he’s destroying the baseball right now. He is leading Boston in damn near every offensive category possible with Vazquez eating up the rest. J.D. currently leads the team in AVG (.433), RBI (12), OBP (.469), SLG (.867), OPS (1.335), Hits (13), and is tied for the lead in HR (2). He also leads the entire MLB in Doubles (7).
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Martinez has been the life force of Boston’s offense through this first week of 2021 and they’ll need him every night if they want to be competitive as the season progresses. As I said, the team seems pretty confident that the slugger doesn’t have COVID and is merely dealing with some spring-time symptoms. If he does pass both tests before game time tomorrow then he’ll surely be back in his usual spot in the lineup ready to attack the Baltimore pitching staff.
"“From our end, we do believe he is going to be back with us tomorrow,” Cora said."
With the DH out of the lineup, Boston recalled Michael Chavis from the taxi squad in Worcester and the move is already paying off. The Ice Horse scored the go-ahead run in the 10th off of a Dillon Tate wild pitch. If J.D. does get the clean bill of health Chavis will likely be heading back to Worcester as there isn’t really another option to send someone else to retain him. I’m sure we’ll see the young #23 again at some point in 2021 but with the roster how it is, I’m just not sure when.
As for Martinez, as long as he passes his tests he’ll be back in the lineup and ready to continue putting the hurt on opposing pitchers. The Red Sox have rebounded in a big way from a disappointing opening weekend and look to be a bit of a force in the AL East. A big part of the momentum shift has come from the bat of J.D. and the spark that he offers this team on a nightly basis. Hopefully, all is well with the slugger and he has avoided the virus and we’ll be seeing him back in the batter’s box soon.