BOSTON -- When Adley Rutschman wasn’t in the lineup for Tuesday night’s eventual 9-6 loss to the Mariners after missing the series opener, it marked the second time in less than a week that interim manager Chad Tracy gave him a multi-day break due to a hyperextended right elbow.
While Tracy said that “alarming” isn’t how he would describe what Rutschman is dealing with, his situation will have to be monitored, perhaps for the remainder of the season.
“I think so,” said Tracy. “It’s possible, but I don't know. We get [him] these rest periods, and you may get to a point where he says, ‘Hey, [I’m good],’ and then you're off to the races. So, it's just day to day for right now. Make sure we take care of it and make sure we have him available throughout the season, and hopefully we do it the right way. Maybe we get to a point where he feels really, really good.”
Without Rutschman, and on a night Sonny Gray’s start was pushed back to Saturday with the intent of getting him fully rested for the stretch run, Boston was never in this one after the red-hot Mickey Gasper hit a game-tying homer in the bottom of the first. Jahmai Jones cut Boston's deficit to three with a pinch-hit, two-run moonshot over everything to left field in the ninth.
Right-hander Jedixson Paez, selected to the roster from Triple-A Worcester, took the start in Gray’s place. Making his debut for the Red Sox (he pitched the first three games of his career for the White Sox earlier this season), the team’s No. 21 prospect had a tough night, giving up 10 hits and eight runs over 3 2/3 innings while walking two and striking three.
The Red Sox, who had one of their most memorable comebacks of the season on Monday, riding Trevor Story’s walk-off single to a 9-8, 10-inning victory, will try to take the rubber match on Wednesday.
Tracy said the “intent” is for Rutschman to return for the 4:10 p.m. ET finale vs. Seattle.
“We talked about that,” said Tracy. “He'll check in tomorrow, make sure that he's able to go through some stuff. I think that's the intent, but we'll definitely check in when he gets here a little early and goes through his work. He'll throw and hit and make sure we're good, but that's the intent. But we’ll definitely check in first.”
After the finale of this brief, three-game homestand, the Red Sox start a four-game series in Baltimore on Thursday, which could be emotional for both Rutschman and Orioles fans given his long ties to the organization.
Rutschman first injured his elbow on a swing during the first game of the team's series against the Marlins on Aug. 24 at loanDepot park. The soreness caused him to miss the final two games of the series. The Red Sox had an off-day the following day.
Boston’s key acquisition at the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, Rutschman returned to play three of the four games in the Yankees series over the weekend and collected three hits in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Rutschman recently had imaging, which makes the Red Sox feel more confident about where he is at.
“He did, and there was nothing on there that we didn't expect to see,” Tracy said. “It’s kind of exactly what we expected. At times he might feel it, but like I said, he did it in New York the other day, felt it throughout, and got three hits, was able to get through [it] just fine. We just have to watch it.”
The elbow might not be helping in Rutschman’s quest to get into a groove offensively. Since coming over from the Orioles, the three-time All-Star has struggled at the plate, hitting just .170 with a .500 OPS in 15 games.
However, even when Rutschman isn’t hitting, he has enormous value defensively, considering his rapport and leadership with the pitching staff and his blocking and throwing skills.