BOSTON — Five pitches into Sunday’s 10-2 loss to the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox’s starter James Paxton wobbled off the mound then fell down to one knee.
The left-hander, making his third start for the Red Sox since being re-acquired at the trade deadline, limped off the field gingerly, barely putting weight on his right leg as manager Alex Cora and a trainer held onto him. The Red Sox later announced he’d exited with a right calf strain. Paxton is getting an MRI on Monday and his timetable to return is unknown.
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“I just felt like I got kicked in the calf, then I turned around and took another step and felt it again,” Paxton said. “I felt it pop.
“I was really looking forward to helping this team go where they wanted to go,” he added. “Hopefully I can come back at some point before the end. We haven’t done any imaging yet so we don’t know what the severity is so we’ll see, but it hurts.”
Nothing short of brutal for the Red Sox.
James Paxton did not have an easy time getting off the field. pic.twitter.com/AyqmbyOF6g
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Paxton’s injury may cast a shadow on the team’s immediate future, but the Red Sox’s long-term outlook continues to look strong, as the Boston Globe reported the organization is promoting their top three prospects — shortstop Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Kyle Teel — to Triple-A Worcester. The trio of promotions marks a major step in each player’s development as they inch closer to the big leagues.
“It’s good for them, just to go out there and keep getting better,” Cora said. “The fact they’re going all together over there, it’s going to be fun to watch. They’re going to be a big part of this in the future, they really are, and I’m glad they’re doing an outstanding job.”
While the promotions highlight the Red Sox’s upper-level depth among their position players, Paxton’s injury shines a spotlight on the organization’s lack of upper-level pitching depth on a day the big-league club was in desperate need of it.
“We’re going to sit down now and there are going to be tough decisions coming because we have to reset this. We have to,” Cora said after the loss, one that moved the Red Sox three games back of Kansas City for the third wild-card spot.
Paxton’s injury just two outs into the game was made worse because the team had already thrown a bullpen game on Saturday after skipping Nick Pivetta’s turn in the rotation to give him extra rest. Long reliever Cooper Criswell had been the scheduled starter Saturday, but landed on the COVID-19 injured list the day before. A seven-day minimum stay means he won’t be eligible to return until Friday. The Saturday bullpen day burned relievers Josh Winckowski and Brad Keller, forcing Cora to cobble together 8 2/3 innings on Sunday with Lucas Sims, Brennan Bernardino, Luis García, Cam Booser and first baseman Dom Smith in the ninth.
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“I don’t know if I mentioned it Saturday that we were good coverage-wise unless something bad happens, and it happened,” Cora said of the worst-case scenario.
There were already questions surrounding the rotation in the second half and Paxton was supposed to be part of the solution. But now more uncertainty abounds.
Boston’s staff owns a 6.21 ERA since the All-Star break, the worst in baseball. The veteran lefty had been healthy all season for the Los Angeles Dodgers and in a market where pitching was at a premium — with Mayer, Teel and Anthony the likely cost of any top pitcher on the market — chief baseball officer Craig Breslow felt he got as good a pitcher for as little an asking price as possible to bolster the team down the stretch. Cora has routinely said he feels the club is better positioned this year pitching-wise because of Criswell and Winckowski.
But at this point, those optimistic vibes from the trade deadline have waned and those decisions will continue to be questioned.
With the Red Sox having lost their fourth straight game, they’re in desperate need of a win and stability from the rotation. Right-hander Brayan Bello, though, has been on the paternity list since the end of last week and while he’ll be back for his Monday start, he has not had his normal between-start preparation.
In Worcester, the pitching depth options are limited. Likely, one of three relievers — Greg Weissert, Isaiah Campbell and Bailey Horn — will be recalled for Monday’s game to help alleviate some strain on the bullpen. Right-handed pitching prospect Wikelman Gonzalez has had a tough season all around with a 5.93 ERA, but has posted a 1.50 ERA in his past 18 innings over six appearances since late June.
Right-hander Quinn Priester, who was acquired in a trade for Nick Yorke at the deadline and is also on the 40-man roster, made his second start as a member of the Red Sox’s organization on Saturday. He allowed three runs in four innings of work, but it appears likely he’ll remain in Worcester for now.
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Right-hander Richard Fitts has posted a 4.55 ERA in 20 games, 19 starts, for Worcester this season, but he is not on the 40-man roster and the team would have to make a move to open space if they opt to add him.
Then there’s Rich Hill. The 44-year-old lefty hasn’t pitched all season, opting to spend time with his family as his career winds down, but he left the option open to pitch in the second half if there were suitors. Hill, who lives in the Boston suburb of Milton, threw a bullpen for scouts over the weekend, according to WEEI.com, and the Red Sox attended. The 19-year big-league veteran struggled in the second half last season with the San Diego Padres, posting an 8.23 ERA in 27 1/3 innings. But given where the Red Sox are with their pitching depth, they may consider adding him to the mix.
Rich Hill showcasing … pic.twitter.com/jc39iyQFfU
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) August 9, 2024
Sunday’s news of promotions for Mayer, Teel and Anthony offered more promise for the future, but the present situation in Boston remains precarious.
(Photo of Paxton after he suffered his calf injury: Winslow Townson / Getty Images)
Jen McCaffrey is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Boston Red Sox. Prior to joining The Athletic, the Syracuse graduate spent four years as a Red Sox reporter for MassLive.com and three years as a sports reporter for the Cape Cod Times. Follow Jen on Twitter @jcmccaffrey
