The Red Sox hope they are getting over their latest COVID scare.
Before Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays, the team reinstated the starting catcher christian vazquez from the COVID-related injured list. backup manifold kevin plawecki and infielder Jonathan Arauz stay in the COVID IL.
All three players are vaccinated, which means that if they submit two consecutive negative PCR tests, have no symptoms and are cleared by the Joint COVID Health and Safety Committee, those players can return.
As of Wednesday, the Sox had no new cases of COVID, according to the manager. Alex Cora.
The bullpen deck
Cora likes structure. But so far, the team still doesn’t have a closer. To wrap up Tuesday’s 2-1 win, for example, Cora asked Garrett Whitlock, even though Whitlock has been the guy the Red Sox have leaned on for multiple innings in relief. The Sox have used jake diekman in multiple roles, too, as well as Hansel Robles. It all depends on the day or the confrontation.
“The more they see you, the greater the advantage for the hitter,” Cora said. “So, we’re just trying to mix and match. Obviously, with more players on the bench, teams have the luxury of configuring their lineups. Knowing that we have three lefties in the bullpen [Diekman, Matt Strahm, and Austin Davis] we can mix and match with them.”
As far as who closes, right now, it’s going to be based on the matchup, but Cora hopes that can change.
“I would love that eventually someone could step up,” said Cora, who also mentioned matt barnes as a possible candidate again to close. “I’ve been saying all along, to me, if Matt gets to where we want him to go, and we think he’s pretty close, it would be great for him to get that ninth inning because he took out lefties and righties. ”
Paxton, sale on the mend
james paxtonrecovering from Tommy John surgery, he continues to make progress.
The lefty said he threw a 30-pitch bullpen on Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a 35-pitch bullpen on Friday. Paxton noted that his bullpens are hovering around 80 percent.
Both Paxton and chris sale (broken rib cage) are with the team during the Toronto series, as well as the team’s trip to Tampa to face the Rays this weekend. After that series, both Sale and Paxton will travel back to Fort Myers to continue their rehab.
The team wanted the two veteran pitchers with the club for the first part of the season, understanding what their presence means to the club. But being around the players has also had a positive impact on Paxton.
“It’s been great being here and getting a feel for Boston and the stadium and being around the guys,” Paxton said. “It’s been a lot of fun. I just have the feeling of being on the bench, I can really put myself on the mound and see how I feel there. It has been a great moment.
Julian McWilliams can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @byJulianMack.
Reference-www.bostonglobe.com