Red Sox's Josh Winckowski: Effective in short start
Rotowire
Winckowski allowed one run on two hits and two walks without striking out any batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Thursday.
Winckowski's short outing can be explained by the fact that he began the campaign in a relief role and isn't stretched out to a starter's full workload. Still, the right-hander was able to give Boston 4.1 useful frames Thursday, with the only run against him coming on a third-inning Mike Yastrzemski solo homer. With Nick Pivetta (elbow) nearing a return to the rotation and and Brayan Bello (lat) not far behind, Winckowski could be moving back to a bullpen role relatively soon.
The Red Sox will option Dalbec to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Dalbec no longer had a path to clear playing time after the Red Sox signed Dominic Smith to split time at first base with Garrett Cooper, so he will head to the minors to serve as an organizational depth piece. The 28-year-old has slashed just .137/.200/.176 across 56 plate appearances with Boston this season.
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Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Could return next week
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Pivetta (elbow) could rejoin the rotation next week during the team's May 7-8 series in Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Pivetta is slated to make a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, and it appearance that will be the lone appearance before he rejoins the Red Sox' rotation. The right-hander has been on the shelf since early April with a right elbow flexor strain. Pivetta was excellent before getting hurt, allowing just one run with a 13:1 K:BB over 11 frames in his first two starts.
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Red Sox's Brayan Bello: Making rehab start Tuesday
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Bello (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Bello resumed mound work this week as he comes back from right lat tightness and has now been cleared for game action. He's missed just two weeks of action, so Bello may need just the one rehab start if all goes well. That sets him up to return as soon as May 12 against the Nationals.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Surgery not ruled out
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Yoshida might require surgery on his injured left thumb, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Yoshida was placed on the injured list Wednesday with what has been termed a left thumb strain. Cora noted Thursday that the medical staff is still gathering information regarding the injury before a decision is made on next steps for Yoshida, but it appears surgery is one of the possibilities. More clarity on the designated hitter's status should be available by the weekend.
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Red Sox's Vaughn Grissom: On track for season debut Friday
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Grissom (hamstring/illness) is feeling much better and will travel with the Red Sox to Minnesota for their weekend series against the Twins, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Grissom has had his season debut delayed after he came down with an illness earlier this week. However, it sounds like he's feeling back or close to 100 percent and is in line to make his Red Sox and season debut Friday. Grissom -- who was acquired from Atlanta over the offseason in the Chris Sale trade -- is set to take over as Boston's primary second baseman.
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Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu: Sitting against southpaw
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Abreu is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
With southpaw Kyle Harrison on the bump for the Giants, the lefty-hitting Abreu will retreat to the bench for the series finale. The Red Sox will have Tyler O'Neill move from his usual spot in left field to replace Abreu in right.
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Red Sox's Dominic Smith: Takes seat Thursday
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Smith is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
After he was granted his release from his minor-league deal with the Rays earlier Wednesday, Smith quickly landed with the Red Sox on a one-year contract and was included in the lineup upon joining the team. He started at first base in Wednesday's 6-2 win, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. While Masataka Yoshida (thumb) is on the shelf along with Triston Casas (ribs), the Red Sox could have room in the lineup at designated hitter and first base for both Smith and Garrett Cooper (wrist), though the lefty-hitting Smith will still likely sit against most left-handed pitchers. Smith finds himself on the bench Thursday with the Giants bringing southpaw Kyle Harrison to the hill.
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Red Sox's Garrett Cooper: Back in lineup as DH
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Cooper (wrist) will bat sixth as the Red Sox's designated hitter in Thursday's game against the Giants, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Cooper didn't play in Wednesday's 6-2 win while tending to a bruised right wrist, but he'll be back in action for the series finale. Given that he's serving as the Red Sox's DH rather than manning first base, it's possible that the bruised wrist is still presenting some complications with his throwing. With Masataka Yoshida (thumb) going on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, the Red Sox can give Cooper as much time as he needs at DH to heal up from the wrist issue before he's reintegrated at first base.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Will play multiple spots in minors
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The Red Sox optioned Valdez to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
The 25-year-old will head back to the minors to make room on the roster for infielder Zack Short, who was acquired via trade Wednesday and has now been added to the 26-man active roster. Valdez has slashed just .156/.186/.267 across 28 games with the big club this season. He will add to his versatility while at Worcester, as the plan is to use him at third base, first base and potentially the outfield in addition to second base.
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Red Sox's Dominic Smith: Makes team debut
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Smith started at first base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Giants.
Smith is the latest through the revolving door that is first base on Boston's roster. He was signed earlier in the day and made his debut for the Red Sox. With Triston Casas (ribs) on the 60-day injured list, the Red Sox have added two new first baseman over the last week -- Smith and Garrett Cooper (wrist). Once the righty-hitting Cooper is ready, a job share between him Smith (a lefty) seems likely. Bobby Dalbec is also around.
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Red Sox's Connor Wong: Big night in win
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Wong went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over San Francisco.
Wong has been a consistent producer at the dish, never going more than one game without a hit. The catcher, who recorded his eighth multi-hit game Wednesday, is slashing .366/.367/.620 through 75 plate appearances. Those numbers are sure to correct -- a .412 BABIP indicates that -- but Wong has improved his contact rate on pitches in the zone, jumping up to 84.2 percent compared to 74.3 percent in 2023.
Abreu went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-2 win against the Giants.
Abreu stole a base in three straight games between April 15 and 18, but he hadn't notched any thefts over his subsequent 10 contests coming into Wednesday. The 24-year-old outfielder continues to cement his place in the starting lineup, as he's slashing .316/.395/.519 with two homers, 12 RBI, 14 runs and five thefts on the campaign. Abreu began the campaign as Boston's fourth outfielder, but has since emerged as the team's everyday right fielder and cleanup hitter.
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Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Bounces back with quality start
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Crawford (2-1) earned the win over San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters over seven innings.
Crawford took his first loss of the campaign his previous time out when he allowed season highs of four runs (three earned) and 10 hits against the Cubs. The right-hander got back on track with a strong outing Wednesday, notching his third quality start and second victory of the season. Crawford has been outstanding for the Red Sox early in the campaign, ranking fifth among qualified starters with a 1.56 ERA through 40.1 innings. He's added a 40:13 K:BB and 1.07 WHIP to emerge as one of the league's most pleasant surprises thus far.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: To be optioned Thursday
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The Red Sox will option Valdez to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
After a promising rookie campaign in 2023, Valdez has slashed just .156/.186/.267 across 98 plate appearances in the majors to begin the season and is now in line to return to the minors in an effort to get back on track at the plate. Zack Short -- who was acquired from the Mets on Wednesday -- will be activated Thursday to fill Valdez's roster spot.
Rodriguez cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Worcester, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Rodriguez was designated for assignment Sunday after posting a 6.55 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 11 innings with the Red Sox. The 32-year-old southpaw will now officially remain with the organization, but he will not have the benefit of a 40-man roster spot and will likely need to show significant improvement in the minors before getting another shot in Boston.
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Red Sox's Garrett Cooper: Sitting Wednesday
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Cooper (wrist) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Cooper will get a day to recover after taking a pitch off his right wrist during Tuesday's contest. While he sits, Dominic Smith will make his Red Sox debut at first base and bat seventh.
