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1 day ago
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The Boston Red Sox can point to a wide array of problems to explain their disappointing, 32-36 season so far, ahead of Tuesday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. Starting pitching has certainly been a major problem.
But the bullpen hasn’t been great either, with a 3.58 ERA that ranks 12th in MLB, and 14 blown saves, more than any other team. Many of the bullpen’s problems can be traced to overuse. The Red Sox played 28 games in May, and starting pitchers failed to make it through five innings in half of them. On the season, the Boston bullpen has faced 1,115 batters. That’s sixth-most in baseball.
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at Tropicana Field.
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Since May 28, the bullpen has only been more stretched because second-year reliever Justin Slaten has not pitched since then. He has been on the injured list with “right shoulder inflammation.
”Slaten was used primarily in “high leverage” situations, often taking the eighth inning to get the game to closer Aroldis Chapman.
In fact, 18 of Slaten’s 24 appearances came in what were defined as “high leverage” situations. But Slaten also showed himself capable of closing games, too. He recorded three saves in his first 24 appearances, though he was also charged with four blown saves.
When the 2023 Rule 5 draft pick was first placed on the IL, he shrugged it off, saying that he would be back in the minimum allowable amount of time.
“Just having a little bit of fatigue right now,” Slaten said at the time. “I don't think it's anything super serious, but kind of had some stuff nagging for a little bit now, and think it just kind of caught up to me.”
But on Tuesday, manager Alex Cora delivered some difficult news about Slaten’s progress — or lack of it — unfortunately contradicting Slaten’s earlier optimism.
Slaten’s recovery has been “slower than we expected, let’s put it that way,” Cora told the media prior to Tuesday’s game at Fenway Park. “He hasn’t reacted to treatment the way we expected.”
As of Tuesday, Slaten remained shut down, meaning he had not resumed even light throwing activities.
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