CHICAGO – Red Sox lefty Ranger Suarez had to go on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain on Thursday, retroactive to July 6, forcing him out of his final start before the All-Star break on Saturday against the Mets and also a homecoming trip to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game.
Suarez suffered the injury in his Sunday start at Anaheim, just a day after being named an All-Star for the second time in his career.
This nod would have been particularly special, given he had spent his entire career with the Phillies before signing a five-year, $130 million contract to come to the Red Sox in January.
“Obviously it doesn’t feel great [to miss the All-Star Game],” said Suarez. “I’m obviously sad. I wanted to be able to go there, and represent my team, and also enjoy the moment. But I think the best thing for me is to take care of my body and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Instead of attending the festivities in Philadelphia, where he surely would have received a standing ovation, Suarez decided it is best he spend the All-Star break in Boston getting treatment.
If all goes well, Suarez could return on July 21 against the Orioles.
“At the end of the day, he is an All-Star,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “He's been named an All-Star, so you love the players that make the All-Star team. You can’t take away from an All-Star season, and now our biggest objective is, let's make sure we do the right thing and get him healthy and have him ready after the break.”
Suarez, 30, has posted a 3.15 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP, a .232 opponents’ batting average and 97 strikeouts in 17 starts this season for Boston.
The Red Sox are hopeful Sonny Gray will be named as the injury replacement for Suarez. In his first season with Boston, Gray is 10-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts.
“He deserves it,” Suarez said of Gray. “He had an amazing first half of the year and he deserves to be there.”
As for who replaces Suarez on Saturday in New York, that is something the Red Sox are still discussing internally.
Tracy confirmed that one option would be to recall righty Brayan Bello from Triple-A Worcester, either to start the game or serve as a bulk reliever, a role he was effective in prior to the team’s decision to option him back to the Minor Leagues four years after making his MLB debut as Boston’s top pitching prospect.
Bello hasn’t pitched for Worcester since July 1. His next scheduled start was skipped because the Red Sox were leaving their options open that he could pitch this weekend in New York.
In his four starts with the WooSox, Bello has a 4.34 ERA. Tracy noted the Sox have other bulk-inning pitchers who could be called up instead of Bello.