Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Earns victory in return
Rotowire
Whitlock (2-2) picked up the win against Arizona on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four batters over five innings.
Whitlock made his first appearance in over a month after dealing with a right elbow injury and making two minor-league rehab starts. The 26-year-old took on what amounted to essentially a full workload, tossing 92 pitches (58 strikes) over five frames. Whitlock's pitch count was that high largely because Arizona fouled off 21 pitches against him, but he was in control after allowing a solo homer in the first inning, at one point retiring 12 straight batters. He should remain in the rotation moving forward with Corey Kluber recently being moved to the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Officially reinstated from IL
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Whitlock (elbow) was activated from the 15-day injured list and will start Saturday against the Diamondbacks.
Whitlock will join the Red Sox in Arizona and make his first major-league start since being placed on the 15-day IL on April 28 with right elbow ulnar neuritis. The 26-year-old allowed one run on nine hits and a walk while striking out eight batters over 8.2 innings in two starts with Triple-A Worcester during his rehab assignment. In three outings with Boston this year, Whitlock has produced a 6.19 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with a deflated 6.2 K/9, which is far below his career average of 9.7 from his first two seasons. To make room on the major-league roster for Whitlock, left-hander Brennan Bernardino was optioned to Triple-A on Friday.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Confirmed for start Saturday
Rotowire
Whitlock will start Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.
Whitlock will make a return to the rotation after missing over a month with ulnar neuritis in his right forearm. The right-hander has struggled to a 6.19 ERA over his three starts in 2023, but his previous success suggests that he can be an effective fantasy option in the coming months. There is some risk that comes with starting him in his first outing back, but there's plenty of reward potential that comes with it.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Should return from IL next weekend
Rotowire
Manager Alex Cora said Sunday "there's a good chance" Whitlock (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday against the Diamondbacks, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
The 26-year-old made his second rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday and threw 79 pitches across 4.2 scoreless frames, lining him up to rejoin the big-league rotation next weekend in Arizona. Whitlock is nearly built up to a full starter's workload, so any limitations in his first start back with the Red Sox should be minor.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Tinkers with changeup
Rotowire
The Red Sox identified an issue with Whitlock's (elbow) changeup, and the pitcher has been able to work on it during his rehab, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Whitlock's changeup was a big pitch for him during his rookie 2021 season. The offering averaged 83.1 mph and opponents went 10-for-54 (.185) with one home run and one double against it. This year, the pitch is averaging 84.9 mph and opponents are 8-for-20 (.400) with two home runs and three doubles. "We noticed [the increased velocity] in Milwaukee before [the injury]. We were talking about it. And we were able to make adjustments. Obviously he had time to work on it. And he felt really, really good about the changeup in the last [rehab start]." Whitlock will make his final rehab start Sunday and is expected to slot back into Boston's rotation this coming weekend against the Diamondbacks.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Will be activated next weekend
Rotowire
Whitlock (elbow) will be activated off the 15-day injured list for Boston's series next weekend against the Diamondbacks, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
Whitlock is starting Sunday for Triple-A Worcester to conclude his rehab assignment, and then the right-hander will join the team in Anaheim before being activated against the D-Backs; likely Saturday for a start against Arizona. Whitlock struggled to a 6.19 ERA before being placed on the injured list with elbow ulnar neuritis, but he's had plenty of success in the past, and the 26-year-old offers a chance for fantasy success when he's on the mound.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Set for another rehab start
Rotowire
Whitlock (elbow) will make a second rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.
Whitlock was impressive his first time out for the WooSox, working four innings and throwing 49 pitches. He could be activated in the days following Sunday's start. The Red Sox are currently on the road, and if Whitlock is activated next week, his return to Boston's rotation could come Friday in Arizona.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Delivers strong rehab start
Rotowire
Whitlock (elbow) allowed one run on five hits and struck out four over four innings Tuesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Worcester.
Whitlock, who made the first of at least two rehab starts for Worcester, didn't walk a batter and threw 49 pitches (35 strikes). Pending the outcome of his next start, Whitlock could rejoin the Red Sox next week, at which point manager Alex Cora will have a decision to make. Whitlock will presumably have a starting role waiting for him, but Boston will likely have to move one of its other six rotation members to the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Making at least two rehab starts
Rotowire
Whitlock (elbow) will make at least two rehab starts before the Red Sox decide whether or not to activate him from the injured list, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Whitlock was hoping to a minimum-length stay when he hit the injured list with ulnar neuritis in late April, but he'll end up missing something close to a month, at least. He's scheduled for starts Tuesday and next Sunday, which means he'd be on schedule to return May 26 against the Diamondbacks.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Whitlock (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
He might get an additional rehab start after that, which would set him up to rejoin the Red Sox later this month. Whitlock is working his way back from right elbow ulnar neuritis.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Nearing rehab assignment
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Whitlock (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment next Tuesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
It could be a one-start stint on the farm for Whitlock, who was placed on the injured list April 28 with right elbow ulnar neuritis. He got through a bullpen session Monday without issue and is scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game Thursday at Fenway Park. That timeline lines him up to return during Boston's next road trip, which begins May 19.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Throws bullpen Monday
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Whitlock (elbow) threw a bullpen session in Atlanta on Monday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora is still not ready to put a timetable on when Whitlock could return, and he told reporters Monday that they'll see how he's progressing. The right-hander was placed on the injured list with right elbow ulnar neuritis, and while it was originally hoped Whitlock would only require a minimum stint, it still seems likely he won't require a long-term absence.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Minimum IL stay possible
Rotowire
Whitlock (elbow) could return after a minimum-length stay on the 15-day injured list, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Whitlock has been cleared to resume throwing as he makes a swift recovery from right elbow ulnar neuritis. He'll be eligible for activation May 9, and he looks as though he'll have a chance to return that day or shortly thereafter.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: No nerve symptoms in exam
Rotowire
Whitlock's follow-up appointment with a doctor Tuesday revealed no ulnar nerve symptoms, and he was able to throw 20 pitches from 45 feet away afterward, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
It's great news for Whitlock, who told reporters after his throwing session that it felt "good to get back on track and get things going again." The Red Sox are hopeful the right-hander will only miss a couple of starts while dealing with elbow ulnar neuritis, and while it's far from a guarantee, the positive prognosis does seem to bode well for those chances.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Undergoing more testing
Rotowire
Whitlock (elbow) will undergo more testing Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Whitlock was initially diagnosed with right elbow ulnar neuritis, but he will be looked at further to rule out any additional issues. The hope had been that the right-hander could make it back after missing just two starts, but that now appears firmly in doubt.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Struggles in loss
Rotowire
Whitlock (1-2) took the loss Saturday, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk over four innings against the Brewers. He struck out one.
Whitlock was shelled Saturday and only picked up one strikeout. Whitlock has had an inconsistent start to 2023, with two starts allowing five runs and one start going seven innings and conceding just a single run. The 26-year-old has a 6.19 ERA in 16 innings this season.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
I'm actually lukewarm on Garrett Whitlock, but it seems wrong to leave him out after the start he had Sunday in only his second turn since coming back from hip surgery. The converted reliever seemed to have trouble extending himself during a brief look in the starting rotation last year, so to see him go seven innings right away is particularly encouraging. And even though his velocity wasn't the same as in shorter spurts, he still had 14 swinging strikes on 99 pitches. It's reason to think this experiment will go better than it did last year even though I suspect the strikeout rate will be underwhelming. Particularly if you play in a points league, where you can better take advantage of his relief pitcher eligibility, Whitlock is someone to consider.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Seven strong innings in win
Rotowire
Whitlock (1-1) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over seven innings in a 2-1 win over the Angels. He struck out five.
Whitlock's lone blemish came in the second inning on a leadoff double by Anthony Rendon and a two-out, RBI single by Brandon Drury. Aside from that, the young right-hander was superb through seven innings and earned his first win of the season. Whitlock was knocked around in his season debut, but he got back on track Sunday and will look to build off his strong performance during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for the finale of a three-game set in Baltimore.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Sharp in rehab outing
Rotowire
Whitlock (hip) allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out eight and walking one across six innings during a rehab outing with Double-A Portland on Thursday.
Whitlock is still recovering from surgery on his hip that he underwent last September, but he is expected to make his season debut Tuesday in Tampa Bay. He's been sharp in two rehab appearances, completing 10 innings while allowing only two earned runs and punching out 14 between Boston's two highest minor-league affiliates. It's unclear if he'll be on a pitch count in his initial starts with the Red Sox, but his ability to pitch deep into Thursday's outing is an encouraging sign.
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Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Likely to debut Tuesday
Rotowire
Whitlock (hip) is likely to come off the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Tuesday against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Whitlock will make another rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, and assuming that outing goes well, he'll return from the IL and make his first start for the Red Sox at Tampa Bay. The right-hander underwent hip surgery in the offseason and the Red Sox have understandably been cautious in his recovery process. Managers should keep in mind that Whitlock may not be able to go deep in his early outings once back in action, but his stuff is good enough to provide fantasy relevance relatively quickly.
