Hernandez recalled; struggling Brasier optioned

BOSTON -- In a shakeup to their inconsistent bullpen, the Red Sox on Tuesday recalled top pitching prospect Darwinzon Hernandez from Triple-A Pawtucket while optioning a stalwart reliever from last season in righty Ryan Brasier to the PawSox.

It has become clear in the last couple of days that a sense of urgency is engulfing the defending World Series champions, who have underachieved so far this season.

The demotion of Brasier to Triple-A comes a day after popular veteran Eduardo Núñez was designated for assignment.

"The message is that we have to get better and we have to make adjustments," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "That's the nature of a team. We made adjustments last year. We will this year, and we're in the stage right now that we've been saying it all along. Yeah, we've got to get better. It's July what, 15th, 16th? So, yeah. We better get better now."

Hernandez, ranked third among Red Sox prospects by MLB Pipeline and first among pitchers, has electric stuff. The starting pitcher was recently moved to the bullpen at the start of the month at Triple-A Pawtucket, a move obviously designed to get him ready to help the Red Sox down the stretch.

"It's been good," Hernandez said through interpreter Bryan Almonte. "It's been easy, because I'm just here to pitch, and wherever they want to put me in, as long as I'm able to help the team, that's fine with me. It's been a smooth transition for me overall."

In Tuesday's 10-4 loss to the Jays, Hernandez fanned two and walked one during a scoreless eighth inning.

"That was good," said Cora. "[He] threw some sliders, good fastball, it’s something. It’s a spot there that we’re going to keep the game at two runs because we feel we can score runs. We can do it. Some good fastballs up in the zone. The slider was good in the beginning. He walked [Justin] Smoak, but then he made some pitches against Teoscar [Hernandez]. It was a good first day for him."

The lefty made four relief outings at Pawtucket, allowing one hit, one run and one walk with six strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.

"He's throwing the ball well," said Cora. "We feel like he can contribute here with his stuff. We feel like his stuff will play. He's a guy that even when he makes a mistake with his fastball in the zone, it plays. We saw flashes of that in his start against Texas. That first inning was electric, so now it's not about going six or seven. It's about getting that guy out and we'll take it step by step."

As for Brasier, he emerged from obscurity last season to emerge into a dominant setup man for Boston, registering a 1.60 ERA in 34 outings in the regular season and a 1.04 ERA while pitching in nine of Boston's 14 postseason games.

When the season started, the Red Sox envisioned Brasier as one of their highest-leverage relievers. That wasn't the case, however, as he posted a 4.24 ERA and allowed seven homers and 12 walks in 40 1/3 innings. The Red Sox seemed en route to a blowout win on Monday night but had to hang on by a score of 10-8 when Brasier gave up four hits and four runs (three earned) in two-thirds of an inning.

"With Brasier, he has to make some adjustments," Cora said. "We talk about it. Go down, reset and try to get him back. I think overall location has been a struggle with him. What he does with the fastball, it hasn't been there probably the whole season, and the slider has been inconsistent. Just go down there, keep working and see where we go after that."

Consistently inconsistent

Cora had an interesting way of summing up his team's season so far.

"We've been consistent at being inconsistent," Cora said.

That answer came about when someone asked what area needed the most improvement.

"To be consistent," said Cora. "Consistent in every aspect. I've been saying that all along. We see flashes of the team and then it doesn't happen for a few days."

Supporting Sale

When struggling ace Chris Sale (3-9, 4.27 ERA) threw his bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon, it was hard not to notice that many members of the pitching staff came out to watch. So, too, did catchers Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon.

"It was teammates being teammates," Cora said. "Just being there and watching. Everybody knows about the game, and obviously pitchers know about mechanics and usage and all that, but I think for them to be there it means a lot.

"It means a lot where we're at as a team and you never know, someone might pick something up that me, [pitching coach] Dana [LeVangie] or [bullpen coach Craig Bjornson] hasn't seen. It was good. So you don't see that often. I think that was good for the team to let him know, 'Hey, we're here for you.'"

Cora thinks Sale can emerge from his recent slump when he pitches the finale of this four-game series against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon.

"I think we have a good idea where we have to go to make this better, and he knows it," Cora said. "We're looking forward to Thursday and seeing if we can actually execute the plan and give us a good outing."

Worth noting

• For the fifth straight day, first baseman Mitch Moreland didn't play in a Minor League game. Instead, he worked out at Fenway Park in hopes of getting his cranky right quad back to where it needs to be.

"Mitch, he hit today, he ran, he's taking ground balls," Cora said. "The goal is for him to play tomorrow with Triple-A."

• The Red Sox will keep an eye on the weather before determining if Nathan Eovaldi will start his Minor League rehab assignment for Pawtucket on Wednesday or Thursday. Eovaldi could assume the closer's role for the Red Sox once he returns from his three-month absence due to right arm woes.

• Knuckleballer Steven Wright, who was placed on the injured list on Sunday, is still sore from the right foot contusion he suffered while getting smacked by a liner on Saturday against the Dodgers.

"Steven, just sore, nothing yet," Cora said. "Most likely, what we'll do is when we go on the road [this weekend], he's going to Fort Myers, [Fla.], to stay on top of it, keep going through his throwing progression."