Article: Red Sox Injury Update: Bregman Swinging, Hicks Dealing, Houck Struggling

[Finley Rogan]

Red Sox fans received bad news when the team announced Wednesday that starter Kutter Crawford would miss the rest of the season with a wrist surgery. Crawford had yet to pitch this season, as he had previously been dealing with right patellar tendon soreness and a sore right wrist. Alex Cora told reporters in Anaheim that the starting rotation depth — which was a strength of the team entering the season — has grown thin. 

Although Crawford is not a Cy Young-caliber pitcher, he still could have provided value to this Red Sox team in the second half of the season. He led the team in innings last season with 183.2. I would even presume that he would be the Game 3 or 4 starter if he was healthy and the team was in the postseason. With Crawford’s season being over, the other depth options in the rotation must step up for the Red Sox. 

Injury Notes

Elsewhere in the rotation, Tanner Houck is scheduled to pitch in Worcester on Sunday, and he will likely return in the coming week or two. Houck threw just 1 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs in his previous rehab start on Tuesday. Houck has struggled mightily at the major league level this season posting a 8.03 ERA in nine games started. It will be interesting to see if Houck can regain some confidence in Worcester before being activated from the injured list. 

Kyle Harrison is also in Worcester, and he just pitched his first game with the organization allowing four runs in four innings. Harrison will get a chance with the Red Sox eventually, but likely sometime after the break.

Justin Slaten, Liam Hendricks, and Hunter Dobbins all played catch this week for the first time since their respective injuries. Slaten will be a key return for the Red Sox as they need some help in the back-end of the bullpen. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, Hendricks is a wild-card and it is unclear what type of production we will see from him when he returns. As far as Dobbins goes, it will be interesting to see how the team handles his injury. It occurred just a week ago, but the Red Sox are labeling the injury as a right elbow strain, which suggests they will not rush the rookie back, especially since his velocity was down in his last start in San Francisco.

On the good news front, Jordan Hicks will be called up to make his Red Sox debut soon. He has thrown twice for Worcester, with his first outing yielding poor results (two earned runs while recording just two outs). However, on Friday night, Hicks threw a scoreless frame while striking out two. It is unclear how the Red Sox will use Hicks out of the bullpen, but at the very least, he will give Alex Cora a new relief weapon who has great stuff. Hicks will probably debut in a low-leverage situation before gradually seeing higher-leverage ones.

Outfielder Masataka Yoshida participated in team batting practice on Friday, and the Red Sox say he could begin a rehab assignment in Worcester on July 1. Yoshida will likely have an extended rehab stint before making his season debut in Boston. Lastly, Alex Bregman took swings on Friday, marking his first baseball activity since his quad injury. Cora said the team will know more about a potential return date next week.

The Red Sox are 3-7 since trading Rafael Devers. The team could use a spark everywhere, and coincidentally there are players returning to each major position group. Only time will tell if these players returning from injury can provide a winning-boost right away, but it remains evident that the Red Sox need help.

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[moonslav59]

Maybe Houck can be great from the pen.

Burdi might help, some.

Murphy is a wildcard & what if.

We need Bregman and Dobbins back and in top form to have any shot. I doubt even that is enough.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Thanks for the recap, it was excellent.

What are your thoughts about what Cora is doing now with the batting order.

I was going through box scores related to Duran and noticed that Duran started a hitting streak on June 2nd that lasted 9 games until June 11th when Boston took its second game from TB and won the series.  During that time, he went 12 for 38 for a .316 average.  The team went 5-4 winning series versus NY in NYC and TB in BOS.  During the NYY series he batted lead-off and had a hit each game batting lead-off.

One Friday June 13th vs the NYY in BOS Cora suddenly sat Duran and used Refsnyder as the lead-off man.  With a 9-game hit streak naturally Cora chooses to sit the player to cool him off as he often does as he makes his daily managerial mistakes, but he also decides he's not going to lead off with Duran after two years of great success with him.  In the series with NY a week earlier Duran lead-off against Rodon and went 1 for 5 with 2 RBIs so there was no need to stop the hitting streak or change the leadoff hitter, it was what I like to call a Cora-ism.  An unprovoked, illogical decision by a person not fit to be a manager.  The Red Sox sweep the Yankees, and it makes Cora think he was smart making the change much like he did when he moved JD to the 4th slot in the batting order in 2018 at the end of July so Pearce could hit in the 3 spot in the batting order behind Benny and Mookie.  Pearce was hot against the Yankees, and Cora thought he was a genius and made the change permanent and JD lost the MVP to Mookie because he lost out on RBIs that had kept Boston in first place all season. 

Now it's Duran being shortchanged by Cora and since those three games when Duran stopped being the lead-off man and stopped his hitting streak Cora has decided to use multiple lead off men.  After they swept NYY they headed out west and Duran went back to leadoff and started a new hit streak.  Then, Devers was traded, and Duran went hitless in game 2 of the SEA series and game 3 of the series.  Many of the veterans did not do well during the SEA series and then they went to SF where Devers was traded to!! 

Duran went 2 for 5 in game 1 of the SF series and Boston won. Without Devers Cora chose to DH Duran in Game 2 of the series and SF won.  In game 3, another Cora-ism and suddenly Duran was not leading off again.  He batted 5th and got 1 hit in a second loss to SF.  As BOS moves on to LAA for a 3-game series, Duran is once again the lead-off man and delivers with a hit, but Buehler gets bombed.  Game 2 Duran is again pulled from the leadoff spot and pushed to the 5th spot in the batting order.  He gets 1 of 5 hits and BOS loses again.   Now Cora moves Duran to 2nd in the order and BOS loses again to LAA and only gets 3 hits.  That ends the road trip with 5 consecutive losses and Cora flailing with his batting order doing experiments instead of leaving things steady after the shock of losing Devers.  It's a rookie move for a guy having 6 years at the helm of a prestigious organization.  Apparently, he's learned nothing!!

Now the team is home and playing TOR.  Duran is returned to leadoff, and he delivers with 1 of 4 hits in a 9-0 bashing by TOR.  Bello was bad giving up 11 hits and walks in 6 innings, but the bullpen was worse giving up an additional 6 runs in 3 innings.

What are your thoughts about Duran being returned permanently to the lead-off spot and the rest of the order being stabilized with the hottest hitters batting behind Duran.  Currently, that is Gonzalez, Refsnyder, Toro, Narvaez, Rafaela and Abreu.  Also, Campbell got sent down after 67 games and a .223 batting average while the team keeps Wong after 30 games hitting .151 and Hamilton after 56 games hitting .156.  The roster needs hitters.  It's bad enough Mayer and Anthony never have had the early success of Campbell and Mayer is still wallowing at .208 after 27 games and Anthony has seen absolutely no traction batting .128 after 17 games.  This team has only Eaton batting over .300 and only four regular players batting over .260.  Isn't it time to go get some hitting talent?  And some pitching talent?  If anyone wants to see the team, make a run at the playoffs this year?  Or at least prep for 2026?

Please share your thoughts.

 

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

What are your thoughts about what Cora is doing now with the batting order....

Please share your thoughts.

 

I will say I am not for putting your 9th best OBP guy up first, all year long,

Only Rafaela has more than 150 PAs and a lower OBP, and I don't want him up first, either.

I do question the timing of the swap, as I do those who are saying Story should not be in the line-up, right after his best (or second best) stretch of the season,

[Finley Rogan]

1 hour ago, TedYazPapiMookie said:

Thanks for the recap, it was excellent.

What are your thoughts about what Cora is doing now with the batting order.

I was going through box scores related to Duran and noticed that Duran started a hitting streak on June 2nd that lasted 9 games until June 11th when Boston took its second game from TB and won the series.  During that time, he went 12 for 38 for a .316 average.  The team went 5-4 winning series versus NY in NYC and TB in BOS.  During the NYY series he batted lead-off and had a hit each game batting lead-off.

One Friday June 13th vs the NYY in BOS Cora suddenly sat Duran and used Refsnyder as the lead-off man.  With a 9-game hit streak naturally Cora chooses to sit the player to cool him off as he often does as he makes his daily managerial mistakes, but he also decides he's not going to lead off with Duran after two years of great success with him.  In the series with NY a week earlier Duran lead-off against Rodon and went 1 for 5 with 2 RBIs so there was no need to stop the hitting streak or change the leadoff hitter, it was what I like to call a Cora-ism.  An unprovoked, illogical decision by a person not fit to be a manager.  The Red Sox sweep the Yankees, and it makes Cora think he was smart making the change much like he did when he moved JD to the 4th slot in the batting order in 2018 at the end of July so Pearce could hit in the 3 spot in the batting order behind Benny and Mookie.  Pearce was hot against the Yankees, and Cora thought he was a genius and made the change permanent and JD lost the MVP to Mookie because he lost out on RBIs that had kept Boston in first place all season. 

Now it's Duran being shortchanged by Cora and since those three games when Duran stopped being the lead-off man and stopped his hitting streak Cora has decided to use multiple lead off men.  After they swept NYY they headed out west and Duran went back to leadoff and started a new hit streak.  Then, Devers was traded, and Duran went hitless in game 2 of the SEA series and game 3 of the series.  Many of the veterans did not do well during the SEA series and then they went to SF where Devers was traded to!! 

Duran went 2 for 5 in game 1 of the SF series and Boston won. Without Devers Cora chose to DH Duran in Game 2 of the series and SF won.  In game 3, another Cora-ism and suddenly Duran was not leading off again.  He batted 5th and got 1 hit in a second loss to SF.  As BOS moves on to LAA for a 3-game series, Duran is once again the lead-off man and delivers with a hit, but Buehler gets bombed.  Game 2 Duran is again pulled from the leadoff spot and pushed to the 5th spot in the batting order.  He gets 1 of 5 hits and BOS loses again.   Now Cora moves Duran to 2nd in the order and BOS loses again to LAA and only gets 3 hits.  That ends the road trip with 5 consecutive losses and Cora flailing with his batting order doing experiments instead of leaving things steady after the shock of losing Devers.  It's a rookie move for a guy having 6 years at the helm of a prestigious organization.  Apparently, he's learned nothing!!

Now the team is home and playing TOR.  Duran is returned to leadoff, and he delivers with 1 of 4 hits in a 9-0 bashing by TOR.  Bello was bad giving up 11 hits and walks in 6 innings, but the bullpen was worse giving up an additional 6 runs in 3 innings.

What are your thoughts about Duran being returned permanently to the lead-off spot and the rest of the order being stabilized with the hottest hitters batting behind Duran.  Currently, that is Gonzalez, Refsnyder, Toro, Narvaez, Rafaela and Abreu.  Also, Campbell got sent down after 67 games and a .223 batting average while the team keeps Wong after 30 games hitting .151 and Hamilton after 56 games hitting .156.  The roster needs hitters.  It's bad enough Mayer and Anthony never have had the early success of Campbell and Mayer is still wallowing at .208 after 27 games and Anthony has seen absolutely no traction batting .128 after 17 games.  This team has only Eaton batting over .300 and only four regular players batting over .260.  Isn't it time to go get some hitting talent?  And some pitching talent?  If anyone wants to see the team, make a run at the playoffs this year?  Or at least prep for 2026?

Please share your thoughts.

 

I can’t say I have too much to say about the batting order, but I do like Duran leading off. I think it makes sense to have the 1B and DH platoon in the 2-5 region. As far as acquiring hitting, I think it’s all dependent on how attainable the playoffs seem at the deadline. Whether fans like it or not, this team does not possess the desire for momentary contention they once carried in the summer. Especially with Crawford ruled out, I think they will continue with the same personnel with hopes that the Kids elevate, and Duran/Abreu find their upper end outcomes. It will be interesting to see if they want to sell assuming the team is four or more back at the deadline. It’s just such a strange position because even if they are way behind, they will not trade Bregman. Overall, my thoughts will be more clear come the deadline. Hopefully they can find their footing this homestand.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

My thoughts on the Sox sending down Campbell, while keeping Wong and Hamilton: they really want and need Campbell to be good. And the only way that can happen is if he plays every day somewhere and figures it out. Worcester and its minor league AAA team is pressure free compared to Beantown, where everybody knows your name.

Wong and Hamilton are back-ups, and lucky to sit on the bench at Fenway Park. They don't need to play every day to develop... though Hammy with his speed should be required to bunt a thousand practice pitches a day -- so the next time they have to use him with a ghost runner on second, he can actually contribute at the MLB level.

[notin]

17 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

My thoughts on the Sox sending down Campbell, while keeping Wong and Hamilton: they really want and need Campbell to be good. And the only way that can happen is if he plays every day somewhere and figures it out. Worcester and its minor league AAA team is pressure free compared to Beantown, where everybody knows your name.

Wong and Hamilton are back-ups, and lucky to sit on the bench at Fenway Park. They don't need to play every day to develop... though Hammy with his speed should be required to bunt a thousand practice pitches a day -- so the next time they have to use him with a ghost runner on second, he can actually contribute at the MLB level.

Campbell had a .963 OPS in Worcester.  Bring him back. Even a struggling Campbell is an upgrade over Hamilton

[Bellhorn04]

26 minutes ago, notin said:

Campbell had a .963 OPS in Worcester.  Bring him back. Even a struggling Campbell is an upgrade over Hamilton

bWAR disagrees.  Campbell had a bWAR of -0.9 in 263 PA.  Hamilton's is +0.2 in 116 PA.

fWAR disagrees somewhat with bWAR. Campbell -0.2 Hamilton -0.3

 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, notin said:

Campbell had a .963 OPS in Worcester.  Bring him back. Even a struggling Campbell is an upgrade over Hamilton

KC has been walking a lot at WOO. I doubt he gets walked in MLB, upon his return.

He's 5 for 18 at WOO, since his demotion. He has 7 BBs in those 6 games.

Is that enough to earn a trip back?

I'm not saying no, and the way DHam is hitting, I can see the reasoning, but the L-R thing looms large and Sogard is the comp to look at there. He's at 1.000 in the last week.