Red Sox Rising Star Placed On Injured List As Ailments Continue To Mount

Boston already has been bit badly by the injury bug

The Boston Red Sox are only 18 games into the season but have been decimated by injuries with little depth to turn to.

After a strong 7-3 West Coast road trip to open the season, Boston has dropped down to last place in the American League East -- a position the team knows all too well. Injuries have been largely responsible for the decline and there's little reason for optimism.

Now one of the breakout stars will be sidelined -- continuing a promising career plagued by injury-list stints.

"(Garrett) Whitlock is headed to the injured list with an oblique strain," The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reported Wednesday. "He fought them on it because he’s been injured so much but (manager Alex) Cora said they took the decision out of his hands, they didn’t want it to develop into something more. Joe Jacques is here. Cora wouldn’t say who replaces him in the rotation."

Whitlock exited after four innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night, tossing just 54 pitches in the losing effort.

The 27-year-old has a 1.96 ERA with a 17-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .212 batting average against and a 1.15 WHIP in 18 1/3 innings across four games. He'd been one of many bright spots in the rotation this season.

For now, the Red Sox will turn to Jacques as an extra arm in the bullpen after relievers were forced to pitch seven innings on Tuesday.

The southpaw has been used sparingly for Triple-A Worcester with some truly awful results. Jacques has allowed seven earned runs in just four innings this season.

The 29-year-old was middling at best for Boston in limited action last year, posting a 5.06 ERA with a 20-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .308 batting average against and 1.58 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings.

It's going to be tough for the Red Sox to fill both Nick Pivetta and Whitlock's spots in the rotation. Cooper Criswell is a near-lock to stay in the former's role but the depth is being tested early on. Hopefully this will be a learning lesson for first-time chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.

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