Through the first weeks of the season, the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation hasn't performed as well as many fans and reporters expected it would. After Boston's April 20 game against the Detroit Tigers, it'll look slightly different for a while.
Sonny Gray got the start for the Sox on Patriots' Day, and he looked to be bouncing back from his previous, five-run outing before he took an awkward stretch on the mound in the third inning. Alex Cora met him on the hill with a trainer and pulled Gray from his start after 2.2 frames.
Shortly after his departure, the Red Sox reported that the veteran experienced hamstring tightness. The team doesn't think his injury is serious, but he'll undergo an MRI to know for certain. The Red Sox placed Gray on the 15-day injured list the evening after his injury, meaning Boston will have to call up a replacement starter to fill his spot in the rotation.
The Red Sox will address the rotation order at a later date. They first recalled reliever Tyler Samaneigo from Triple-A to occupy the empty roster spot and address the bullpen.
Red Sox place Sonny Gray on 15-day IL, recall Tyler Samaniego to reinforce exhausted bullpen
The Sox optioned Samaniego to Worcester on April 14 to refresh the bullpen and summon pitching prospect Jack Anderson for his MLB debut. Samaniego hadn't let up a hit or a run with four strikeouts and three walks over 3.2 innings in the major leagues. The Red Sox had to option him despite his hot start because Jovani Morán and Ryan Watson, two relievers who've pitched a lot of innings already, can't be optioned.
Boston's starters have had trouble pitching deep into games, even Gray and Garrett Crochet have been no exception. Replenishing the bullpen with Samaniego until Gray's next scheduled start comes around is a good call, especially with the New York Yankees coming to town for a strange mid-week series on April 21.
Payton Tolle is still the leading candidate to be called up to take Gray's rotation spot, as he was scratched from his scheduled Triple-A start on Saturday in case the Red Sox had to play a doubleheader against the Tigers. Top pitching prospect and offseason trade acquisition Jake Bennett could also be summoned, but unlike Tolle, he doesn't have any major league experience.
The Yankees lead the American League East and they're one of the top three home run hitting teams in MLB, meaning they'll be trouble for the Red Sox's already-scuffling rotation. It makes the most sense for Boston to reinforce the bullpen with an extra, dominant arm in the event that Connelly Early, Ranger Suárez and Brayan Bello can't log a quality start.
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