Red Sox activate left-handed pitcher Craig Breslow from paternity leave list

BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today activated left-handed pitcher Craig Breslow from the paternity leave list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, infielder Travis Shaw was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket following yesterday's game. Breslow will be active for tonight's series opener against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park beginning at 7:10 p.m.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Breslow, 34, was placed on paternity leave on Friday. He has no record and a 4.03 ERA (10 ER/22.1 IP) with 18 strikeouts in 18 relief appearances for the Red Sox this season. His 22.1 innings pitched rank third in the Boston bullpen and 12^th among AL left-handed relievers. In his major league career, he is 22-23 with seven saves and a 3.23 ERA (172 ER/478.2 IP) in 497 outings, all in relief, with the San Diego Padres (2005), Red Sox (2006, 2012-15), Cleveland Indians (2008), Minnesota Twins (2008-09), Oakland Athletics (2009-11), and Arizona Diamondbacks (2012).

Shaw, 25, went 0-for-1 as a defensive replacement at first base yesterday after being recalled for his second career major league stint prior to the game. The left-handed batter is hitless in three at-bats over two career major league games, also on May 8 in Toronto. In 56 contests for the PawSox this season, he has hit .256 (54-for-211) with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 26 RBI, and 22 walks, appearing in games at third base (30 games), first base (22), and left field (3). Signed by the Red Sox as a ninth-round selection in the 2011 June Draft, Shaw has hit .262 (477-for-1,820) with 116 doubles, 11 triples, 69 home runs, 276 RBI, 272 walks, and a .362 on-base percentage in 500 games over parts of five seasons in the minor leagues.