Red Sox Face Setback with Crochet on Injured List

Chad Tracy, the interim manager of the Red Sox, has found his situation growing more challenging.

Boston’s ace, Garrett Crochet, has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his left shoulder. This development comes after a rough start to the season for Crochet, who holds a 6.30 ERA over six games. His performance hit a low point against the Twins, where he allowed a staggering 10 runs in just 1 and 2/3 innings.

The decision, retroactive to April 26, adds to the mounting pressure on the Red Sox, who are off to a rocky 12-18 start, prompting the organization to part ways with manager Alex Cora on Saturday.

Cora’s dismissal followed Crochet’s six shutout innings in a 17-1 victory over the Orioles. Speaking to reporters in Toronto, Crochet expressed, “I’m pretty confident” about his eventual return. As noted by MassLive.com, he could be back on the mound in a few weeks if he progresses as anticipated.

“I just felt a little tired from my last start,” said Crochet, who had emerged as the team’s leading starter last season. “We managed to get through, and it makes more sense to move forward rather than play catch-up for the whole season.” He also mentioned discussions with team officials about managing his condition: “It’s tough. I talked with Bres and Brandon about pushing through, but I’m just trying to do my best for the team.”

According to officials, Crochet is “getting better every day,” and the precautionary measure of placing him on the IL was deemed necessary.

Crochet attributed his discomfort to the challenges faced during spring training. “I feel like it was avoidable. I just lost power during the build-up and couldn’t get it back,” he remarked.

To fill Crochet’s spot, the Red Sox have promoted utility player Nate Eaton from Triple-A, though this might only be a temporary fix as the team is on the lookout for a new starting pitcher.

It’s anticipated that Jake Bennett will be called up for his major league debut against the Astros on Friday night. Meanwhile, Sonny Gray, who was acquired from the Cardinals in a trade, is also on the IL due to a hamstring strain, and veteran pitchers Cutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval are currently dealing with long-term injuries and are not expected to return soon.

Since taking over for Cora, Tracy has managed to win two out of three games.