The Red Sox is on the right Michael Wacha on the list of 15 days injured from left intercostal irritation, reported Chris Cotillo by MassLive. This move takes effect May 5. Fellow righty Tyler Danish was withdrawn in a corresponding move.
This is yet another in a series of disappointments for the Red Sox so far this year. After a 92-win campaign a year ago, the club have a dismal 10-18 start here in 2022, dropping them into the basement of AL East. They also received some bad news on Saturday, when report that Chris discount and James Paxton both suffered setbacks in their respective trauma rehabilitation efforts.
Wacha has been one of Boston’s few bright spots this year, as he has an ERA of 1.38 in his first five starts. There may be some luck there, as Wacha’s hit rate of 19% and walk rate of 11% are both slightly below the league average. His surface level success is probably related to his unsustainable .162 average hit rate at play and a 94.3% snag rate. However, it was a blow to a club that was not very pleasant in the first month of the campaign. The rotation is also lost Rich Hillwho was on the list of recent COVID-related injuries, but it is unclear how long he is expected to be sidelined.
With Wacha scratched since early Sunday, the club gave the ball to Tanner Houck to replace. Houck opened the season in a shootout but was gradually usurped by Garrett Whitlock. He’s been piggybacking Hill for a few turns through the rotation but could start more now with recent openings. He was out on the field in just two days off Sunday and was able to throw only 39 throws in 2 2/3 innings but could be extended in the coming weeks. Unless Hill can return soon, the club may need another arm down the line, as they are struggling with a rotation of four including Houck, Whitlock, Nathan Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta. That will do for now, as the club has days off on Monday and Thursday. But then they’ll play 10 days in a row, followed by a day off and then 10 over nine days, thanks to a doubles match on May 28.
