James Paxton’s second tenure with the Boston Red Sox – and his season – is almost certainly over.
Before Friday night’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Red Sox placed the experienced left-hander on the 60-day injured list.
Paxton, 35, has only made three appearances for the Red Sox since signing him from the Dodgers in late July. His third start ended after just five pitches; the left-hander could barely walk off the mound and was later diagnosed with a partial tear in his right calf. On August 13, manager Alex Cora described him as “unlikely” to pitch again this season.
This is a major blow for Paxton, who had had a healthy season after several years of injuries and setbacks, and also for the Red Sox, who finally added a left-hander to their starting lineup but lost him almost as quickly.
Also on Friday, the Red Sox optioned left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez from Triple-A Worcester – to help against the Diamondbacks’ left-heavy lineup – and optioned right-hander Greg Weissert.
• Danny Jansen will become the first major league player to play for both teams when he starts catcher for the Boston Red Sox in Monday’s resumption of a suspended game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“He’s catching. Let’s make history,” said Cora.
Jansen was about to pitch for Toronto when the June 26 game against Boston was stopped in the second inning due to rain. It was rescheduled for Monday as part of a doubleheader.
The Red Sox acquired the 29-year-old Jansen in a trade on July 27.
Reese McGuire was Boston’s catcher for the June 26 game. McGuire was designated for assignment after the Red Sox signed Jansen and is now at Triple-A Worcester.
• Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill was left out of Friday’s lineup because of finger inflammation in his left hand.
O’Neill was scheduled to bat fifth and play left field, with Rob Refsnyder being inserted into the lineup in his place.
• Red Sox minor leaguer Kristian Campbell is making an immediate impact after his promotion to Worcester, just as he did when he was promoted from Class A Greenville to Double-A Portland in June. In his first two games for the WooSox, Campbell was 4 for 10 with a double and six RBIs.
This season, the 22-year-old infielder/outfielder has a .341 batting average with a .445 on-base percentage and a .570 slugging percentage in 98 games. He has 16 home runs, 31 doubles and 21 steals.
Another recently promoted young player, 20-year-old outfielder Roman Anthony, has hit 12 of 36 with one home run and three doubles in nine games for Worcester.
YANKEES: Jazz Chisholm Jr. was activated from the 10-day injured list and was in New York’s squad against Colorado.
Chisholm was injured on August 12 when he dove headfirst into home plate while scoring in a loss to the Chicago White Sox. Since being signed by the Miami Marlins on July 27, he has a .316 batting average with seven home runs, 11 RBIs and five stolen bases in 14 games.
• Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu was hit in the face by a ball while throwing grounders at first base during batting practice and was later removed from the starting lineup.
LeMahieu was visited by a trainer before heading to the clubhouse. The Yankees said LeMahieu, who was scheduled to play first baseman and bat ninth, was left off the roster as a precautionary measure.
NATIONAL PLAYER: Washington plans to bring in outfielder Dylan Crews, Major League Baseball’s third-best prospect, for his debut Monday night against the New York Yankees, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the decision had not yet been announced.
Crews, 22, was drafted No. 2 by Washington last summer – after his LSU teammate Paul Skenes was taken first by Pittsburgh – and quickly rose through the minor leagues.
Crews has a .272 batting average with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs in 99 games for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester this season.
He will join 21-year-old James Wood in Washington’s young outfield. Wood made his debut on July 1 for the rebuilding Nationals, who signed him to San Diego in 2022 in exchange for Juan Soto.
TIGER: Detroit placed shortstop Javier Báez on the 10-day injured list due to right hip and lumbar spine inflammation.
Manager AJ Hinch said they would know more about the injury after Báez underwent further tests.
Báez has a batting average of .184 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 80 games.
Copy the story link
