The Boston Red Sox are fresh off a polarizing week. They won eight of their 10 games played from June 25 to July 5, but they also experienced two pitcher injuries that could change the course of their season.
Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez went down with different ailments in the same rotation cycle. Early has been sidelined with elbow inflammation and he's getting a second opinion on his diagnosis from Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, TX. Suarez prematurely left his July 5 start with an adductor issue, and the Red Sox are still determining the severity of his injury.
Suarez has not been placed on the injured list as of July 7 and Boston is hopeful he might be able to avoid it altogether. He'll throw a bullpen on Thursday to see how he feels in hopes of making his scheduled start on Saturday against the New York Mets, according to multiple sources.
If the Red Sox are lucky (which they've rarely been this season), Suarez will dodge the IL. They're essentially out of backup pitching options since Jake Bennett has been a successful addition to the rotation and Patrick Sandoval will make his Boston debut in Early's stead.
Even if he doesn't need an IL stint, Ranger Suarez should skip All-Star Game to be fully healthy for Red Sox second half
Suarez's injury came just one day after the news of his All-Star nomination. After he exited his July 5 start early, he told reporters he isn't focused on the All-Star Game while he heals, which doesn't mean for certain that he won't play, but he shouldn't.
Even if Suarez feels well enough to make his next start, it would be in the Red Sox's best interest for him to pass on his upcoming All-Star Game appearance. He's one of the three Sox players who made the AL squad, alongside Aroldis Chapman and Willson Contreras, who got the nod on July 7 as a replacement for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The Red Sox's lack of starting pitching depth and sudden relevance in the trade deadline conversation should be enough to keep Suarez off the mound during the Midsummer Classic (he still gets credit for being named an All-Star even if he doesn't appear in the game). Before its game against the Chicago White Sox on July 7, Boston is half a game back of the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and just four games out of a Wild Card spot, and it needs a healthy Suarez to continue that momentum.
Suarez missed his first career All-Star appearance due to an injury and it appears he might miss another one for the same reason. But the Red Sox need him more than the AL squad does, and he should use the All-Star break to rest rather than risking further injury in a game that counts for nothing.
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