Prior to tonight's series opener against the Kansas City Royals, the Boston Red Sox activated right-handed pitcher Steven Wright from the 15-day disabled list. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Heath Hembree to Triple-A Pawtucket following yesterday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Wright is expected to start tonight's game at Fenway Park beginning at 7:10 p.m.
 
President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski made the announcement.
 
Wright, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 15 (retroactive to August 8) with a right shoulder strain, has gone 13-5 with a 3.01 ERA (49 ER/146.2 IP) and 123 strikeouts in 22 starts this year. A first-time All-Star in 2016, the 31-year-old knuckleballer ranks tied for seventh among all American League pitchers in wins, fifth in ERA, and seventh in opponent batting average (.227). His most recent start came August 5 at Dodger Stadium, where he threw his first career shutout and held the Dodgers to only three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. Over his major league career, spent entirely with the Red Sox (2013-16), Wright is 20-10 with a 3.41 ERA (96 ER/253.2 IP) and 207 strikeouts in 48 games (33 starts).
 
Hembree, 27, is 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA (11 ER/41.1 IP) and 36 strikeouts in 30 appearances over three major league stints this season. He has held right-handed hitters to a .204 batting average (22-for-108) and has posted a 0.77 ERA (1 ER/11.2 IP) in seven outings against AL East opponents. With the PawSox, Hembree has a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP) with 20 strikeouts in 10 appearances, converting all seven of his save opportunities. Acquired from San Francisco on July 26, 2014, the right-hander is 6-1 with a 2.77 ERA (26 ER/84.1 IP) and 69 strikeouts in 64 career major league appearances between the Giants (2013) and the Red Sox (2014-16).