TORONTO -- The Red Sox bullpen suffered a significant loss on Thursday, as the team placed right-hander Garrett Whitlock on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Monday) with right elbow inflammation.
Fellow right-hander Greg Weissert has been recalled from Triple-A Worcester to take his place on the roster.
Interim manager Chad Tracy indicated following Wednesday’s 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre that Whitlock was unavailable for the game due to the elbow issue, but he wouldn’t confirm whether an IL stint was needed.
Less than 24 hours later, the answer came.
Whitlock has been a key piece to the Red Sox bullpen, putting together a 6-1 record and 2.05 ERA, with 49 strikeouts against just seven walks in 44 innings.
It’s a tough blow for a team in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Boston hasn’t lost five in a row since the opening road trip of the season, when it lost two in Cincinnati followed by three in Houston.
Weissert, who was optioned to Worcester on Aug. 7, owns a 3.97 ERA over 48 appearances for the Red Sox this season.