The Boston Red Sox have been one of the hottest teams in baseball for two months. In fact, since their shocking trade of three-time All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on June 15, the Red Sox have put together the third-best record in baseball, at 32-21.
Only the Milwaukee Brewers (40-11) and Boston’s American League East rival Toronto Blue Jays (35-20) have been better over that span.
Heated Playoff Battle in Final Stretch of Season
Even so, the Red Sox are in the thick of a heated battle for a playoff spot, tied with the Seattle Mariners for the top AL Wild Card spot, just one-half game ahead of the New York Yankees in the third position — and four on top of the Cleveland Guardians who remain very much in the hunt.
In an effort to gain whatever edge they can, Boston announced the signing of first baseman Nathaniel Lowe on Monday, after the seven-year veteran was cut loose by the Washington Nationals last week.
Also on Monday, the Red Sox promoted utility player Nate Eaton from Triple-A Worcester. The former Kansas City Royal has posted an unremarkable .630 OPS and .250 batting average in just 14 games for Boston this season — but has stolen three bases.
Manager Alex Cora instantly installed the light-hitting speedster in the leadoff spot at designated hitter for Monday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Pair of Roster Spots Need Opening
Eaton was called up apparently to fill in for outfielder Wilyer Abreu who will miss Monday’s game, and likely Tuesday’s as well, with calf muscle “tightness.” But Abreu was not added to the injured list, and that means to add both Lowe and Eaton, the Red Sox needed to clear two roster spots before Monday night’s contest.
They took care of one spot by designating third catcher Ali Sanchez for assignment. Claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays on August 8, Sanchez appeared in only one game for the Red Sox, with just one at-bat, an out.
So the Red Sox lose little by letting the journeyman catcher go. But their other roster move could cost them much more.
In a concerning development, the Red Sox sent backup outfielder Rob Refsnyder — finishing out the club option year of his two-season, $3.9 million contract — to the 10-day injured list with what the club said was an “oblique strain.
Refsnyder has been called upon mainly to face left-handed pitching, and in that role he has excelled. In 112 plate appearances against southpaws, the 34-year-old has belted five home runs, seven doubles and walked 15 times, adding up to a .905 OPS — ranking him 30th out of 285 MLB hitters with at least 60 plate appearances against lefties, according to Fangraphs stats.
That OPS also ranks him third on the Red Sox against lefties. Only Romy Gonzalez (1.070) and Alex Bregman (.958) have done better.
Oblique Strain Typically Needs 4-Week Recovery
The Red Sox made his IL assignment retroactive to August 15, meaning that Refsnyder could return in a week. But will he?
According to a study by MLB using data from the league’s Health and Injury Tracking System (HITS), “hitters typically take 27 days to recover from a Grade 1 strain, while pitchers typically take as many as 35 days.”
The Red Sox did not reveal the severity of Refsnyder’s left oblique strain, but even with a “typical” recovery the 2012 New York Yankees fifth-round draft pick would not be able to return at least until September 14, when the Red Sox face the Yankees in game No. 150 for the season.
Red Sox Make Concerning Announcement on $3.9 Million Lefty-Crushing Veteran