MLB teams
Gordon Edes, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Red Sox place Rick Porcello on DL

MLB, Boston Red Sox

BOSTON -- Just days after what manager John Farrell called Rick Porcello's worst start of the season, the Red Sox placed the right-hander on the 15-day disabled list with soreness and inflammation in his triceps.

Porcello was scheduled to start Tuesday in New York in the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees but was unable to throw his regularly scheduled side session Sunday morning, Farrell said at his pregame media session.

That led to the decision, Farrell said, to scratch Porcello from Tuesday's start.

No decision has yet been made on Tuesday's starter, Farrell said. Left-hander Brian Johnson is scheduled to pitch Sunday for Triple-A Pawtucket, so barring a last-minute scratch, that rules him out.

A more likely candidate is left-hander Henry Owens, who is scheduled to start for Pawtucket on Monday in Syracuse against Nationals star Stephen Strasburg, who has been out with an oblique injury and is making what is expected to be his last rehab start before rejoining Washington.

Owens is not on Boston's 40-man roster, but the club has an open spot to add him. If promoted, this would be his major league debut. Owens is 3-8 with a 3.16 ERA, 103 strikeouts and 56 walks in 122 1/3 innings, and has held opposing batters to a .193 average.

Porcello is 5-11 with a 5.81 ERA in 20 starts this season, his ERA the highest among all qualifiers in the American League.

In his last start, against the White Sox on Wednesday, Porcello allowed 10 hits and six runs and failed to record an out before being pulled in the third inning, marking one of the worst starts ever by a Red Sox pitcher. He gave up two home runs, walked a batter and hit another. He has given up a career-high 20 home runs this season.

The decision to place Porcello on the DL is reminiscent of the club's decision to do the same in May 2014 with Clay Buchholz, after the right-hander had a major meltdown in Atlanta. Buchholz was out nearly a month before returning, and while still inconsistent, he pitched much better upon his return.

Taking Porcello's spot on the roster Sunday was reliever Ryan Cook, acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

^ Back to Top ^