The Boston Red Sox couldn't have lost their five-game winning streak and 12-game quality start streak in a more Red Sox fashion than they did on June 30 against the Washington Nationals. Willson Contreras was ejected in his second straight game and is seemingly destined for a suspension, while Connelly Early departed after the fourth inning.
A few frames after his exit without a quality start, the Red Sox announced that Early left the game with soreness in his elbow. He's been placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation, joining multiple other Sox pitchers on the sidelines, including Garrett Crochet, Kutter Crawford and Johan Oviedo.
Elbow inflammation is a gut-punch of a diagnosis for a Red Sox team that was seemingly beginning to hit its stride. Early told reporters after the game that he felt some discomfort toward the back of his elbow, but that he isn't particularly concerned about the injury. But elbow pain is one of the worst signs for a pitcher, and could suggest a long-term recovery — maybe even a season-ending one — is coming.
At least Boston has a rehabbing starter who's nearly ready to make the jump back to the big leagues. The Red Sox before the 2025 season signed longtime Los Angeles Angels pitcher Patrick Sandoval to a two-year, $18.25 million contract while he recovered from UCL reconstruction surgery.
Rehabbing Patrick Sandoval seems like Red Sox's best option to replace injured Connelly Early in rotation
Sandoval has experienced a few setbacks in his recovery since he signed with the Red Sox, but he's in the middle of a rehab assignment as Early hits the IL. Sandoval either needs to be added to the Sox's active roster by July 5 or traded elsewhere, and despite some recent rumors that he's on the trade block, he seems like the best candidate for Early's rotation spot.
Sandoval has posted a 4.34 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 12 walks over 18.2 innings of a rehab assignment between Double-A and Triple-A. His command needs work, but seeing as he hasn't pitched in a major league game since 2024, he should be given some grace. Sandoval has logged a 4.01 ERA and a 1.392 WHIP over his six major league seasons.
Hopefully, Early's judgement on his injury is correct (although fans shouldn't be too optimistic) and he can return to the rotation quickly. If so, and Sandoval performs well as his replacement, the Red Sox might be able to get a decent return for the righty on the trade deadline market.
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