UPDATE: Alex Cora says Devers is "feeling good" and could DH on Wednesday night if the medical staff clears him before the game.
Rafael Devers came up big for the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. With two runners on in the bottom of the sixth inning, Devers drilled a two-RBI double to the center field wall and the Sox took a 6-5 lead over the Cleveland Guardians.
But after his big hit, Devers was pulled from the game. Bobby Dalbec filled in at third for the rest of the night, and he flied out and struck out in his two at-bats.
Devers' bat surely would've helped the Red Sox in extra innings, and fans were concerned when the third baseman was pulled. He's been dealing with a shoulder injury that hurts when he swings, but this time he was pulled for a different reason.
Manager Alex Cora said in the postgame presser that Devers was feeling knee discomfort. The skipper said the pain "came out of nowhere" and it followed a play he made in the field in the seventh inning.
Red Sox will seek imaging for Rafael Devers' knee pain
"It came out of nowhere. There was a play he made in the 7th... He felt it there. We'll know more tomorrow."
— NESN (@NESN) April 17, 2024
Alex Cora on Rafael Devers exiting the game | #RedSox pic.twitter.com/3MHPVZNsOV
The nature of Devers' pain has given the Red Sox cause to request imaging of his knee. Devers also spoke to media postgame and said that he's never had any issues with pain in his legs before.
Tyler O'Neill is slated to sit for Boston's April 17 game against the Guardians, and if Devers needs to be sidelined as well the Red Sox will have next to no one on their bench. Dalbec will have to start at third, and he's on an 0-for-18 streak at the plate.
If Devers needs to miss any amount of time, the Red Sox need to hunt for reinforcements. David Hamilton and Dalbec are not going to cut it on the left side of the infield. Things are going to get worse before they get better.