Boston Red Sox Provide Update on Injured Starting Pitcher

The Boston Red Sox, in the midst of a four-game winning streak, are set to get even better next week.

It looks like Garrett Whitlock, who has been on the injured list with elbow neuritis, is set to rejoin the rotation.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe tweeted the following on Sunday afternoon:

Alex Cora said "there's a good chance" Garrett Whitlock starts Sunday.

His last Triple A rehab start today: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. 79/48.

Alex Cora said "there's a good chance" Garrett Whitlock starts Sunday.

His last Triple A rehab start today:

4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. 79/48.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) May 21, 2023

That's certainly an encouraging update on the right-hander, and his start would come at the end of a nine-game road trip against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Whitlock is making the full-time move to the rotation this year after spending all of 2021 in the bullpen and 2022 in a hybrid role. This season, he is 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 16 innings. He started the year on the injured list with a hip issue.

For his career, he's 13-8 with a 3.06 ERA. His work in the bullpen was a major factor in the Red Sox advancing to the American League Championship Series in 2021.

While Whitlock's return to the rotation is certainly good news for the Red Sox, it does open up more questions. The team just demoted Nick Pivetta to the bullpen to account for James Paxton's spot in the rotation, so how the team handles this with Whitlock will be interesting.

They could send Brayan Bello to Triple-A or could send Tanner Houck to the bullpen.

The Red Sox finish out a series with the Padres on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. ET.

Follow Fastball on FanNation in social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.