Red Sox starter Guard Suarez left today’s game in the bottom of the third inning with left adductor tightness, according to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe. With the score tied 2-2, the lefty delivered a curveball to the Angels’ Jo Adellwho fell short and reached on an infield single. Suarez was seen bouncing around the back of the field and appeared to land awkwardly on his left leg (video by Tyler Milliken of the Section 10 Podcast). He tried a warmup pitch but ended up walking off the field with the trainers. Greg Weissert came in to relieve Suarez.
The team is certainly running tests on Suarez, who was announced as one of two Red Sox All-Star players this morning, and closers. Aroldis Chapman. The extent of his injuries should be known in the next day or so. The 30-year-old has made five trips to the injured list since the start of 2022, three of which were back-to-back. The last absence due to a lower-body injury was in August 2023, when Suarez, then with the Phillies, missed two weeks with a strained right hamstring.
If Suarez ends up missing time, it would be a major blow to the Red Sox’s already depleted rotation due to injuries. Ace Garrett Crochet been out since late April with left shoulder swelling and lat stiffness. He is not close to returning, according to the team’s official injury report. Connelly Early dropped out a few days ago due to elbow inflammation. Cutter Crawford, Johan Oviedoand other depth options are also in IL.
FanGraphs currently gives the Red Sox a four-man rotation Sonny GraySuarez, Payton Tolleagain Jake Bennett. Suarez was the best of that group. In 88 2/3 innings over 16 starts, he has a 2.94 ERA, a 25.5% strikeout rate, and a 7.2% walk rate, all of which are better than average. Suarez’s 2.8 fWAR ranks 10th in the league among professional starters.
Gray, Tolle, and Bennett supported Suarez with their excellent performances. However, the team’s woes left them with a 39-48 record and in last place in the AL East. Boston is currently 4.5 games out of the Wild Card spot, and while improvement on offense is badly needed if the team wants to compete, any absence of their most important starter will only make things worse.
Should Suarez take the IL, or at least miss a start before the All-Star break, the upcoming return Patrick Sandoval it will have a greater impact than originally thought. Sandoval hasn’t pitched in the Majors since June 2024, due to UCL surgery and other setbacks. He has a 1.96 ERA in six rehab starts since June 5, including five scoreless innings on Saturday. A trade spot was clearly opened up for Sandoval when Early entered the IL. The Red Sox are without a starter in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the White Sox, so Sandoval could start that day on regular rest or the next day in Suarez’s place if needed.
Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Images
