MIAMI – Reliever Garrett Whitlock – who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 13, retroactive to Aug. 10, with right elbow inflammation – faced live hitters on Wednesday ahead of the Red Sox’s finale against the Marlins at loanDepot park.
Whitlock warmed up in left field before facing Eli White and Caleb Durbin. The right-hander struck out both batters, but his biggest focus wasn’t his command. It was getting a feel for what it’s like to have batters in the box.
“You don't want to go too many days without having someone try and swing off you,” Whitlock said. “That's just it. Knock the rust off. Make sure everything's moving the way it's supposed to.
“You're going to have more adrenaline than just throwing a bullpen. So just to feel that game speed as close as you can. Because obviously, you're not going to be full adrenaline, but it's at least a little bit closer than just another bullpen.”
Whitlock said he feels like he could be ready to come back for the four-game series against the Yankees that begins Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox (73-59) entered Wednesday’s game only 1 1/2 games behind New York (74-57) for the top American League Wild Card spot.
“I feel like I'd be good,” Whitlock said. “I'm just going to let them make that decision. I'm not that decision-maker.”
As far as when the right-hander will be activated from the IL, it will depend on how he feels when he wakes up Thursday, Boston’s off-day before the series opener in New York.
“He looked good. He felt good. So that's a good outcome,” interim manager Chad Tracy said pregame. “As I always tell you guys, the big thing is you see tomorrow, like when he wakes up, we have to see how they recovered. That's the most important thing.”
The 30-year-old Whitlock had a 2.05 ERA in 45 games this season before he was placed on the injured list. He could be coming off the IL at the perfect time: The setup man holds a 1.67 ERA against the Yankees and has held them to a .165 batting average in his career.
But in his time away, Whitlock has been impressed with how the team has responded with many key absences, especially the bullpen.
“Those boys are throwing it really well,” Whitlock said. “That's a really nice thing; our whole bullpen and everybody's throwing the ball really well. It's one of those things that when me or [Justin Slaten] or [Erik] Miller [who is] going to be down today, so when you have guys down, it's all right. We know the rest of the bullpen can take care of it, and you're pretty happy with that – with the bullpen we have.”
The Red Sox bullpen leads the Majors in ERA at 2.87, just ahead of New York, which has a 3.06 ERA on the season. So Whitlock feels really good about the chances of Boston’s bullpen to carry the team to the playoffs.
“I feel really good. I mean, shoot, [Tyron Guerrero is] a diamond that we found. He's been awesome. Miller's been unreal. [Slaten’s] as advertised, he's always dominant.
“And then you got [Aroldis Chapman]. Kind of helps to have him. So I'm feeling pretty good. And so yeah, the guys are guys that are throwing the ball well, and so let's just focus on getting there first and then we'll take care of the rest after that.”