Another Red Sox starter down: Garrett Whitlock removed from his start after 54 pitches

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Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock was removed from his start on Tuesday night against the Guardians after throwing just 54 pitches.

The right-hander exited the game with left oblique tightness, the club announced.

Joely Rodriguez replaced Whitlock to start the fifth inning.

The 27-year-old allowed two runs, three hits, and one walk while striking out one over four frames. Of the 54 pitches he threw, 36 of them were strikes. The Guardians' hitters swung at 25 pitches during his short outing.

Whitlock has a 1.96 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, allowing just four runs in four starts this year.

The Georgia native is no stranger to the injured list; he made three trips last season. He missed 27 games with right elbow ulnar neuritis and 32 games with right elbow inflammation, and he also began the 2023 season on the IL recovering from hip surgery.

Boston is already down two starters, with Lucas Giolito out for the season and Nick Pivetta dealing with a mild right elbow flexor strain. If the Red Sox need to place Whitlock on the IL, Chase Anderson and Josh Winckowski are both options that are currently on the 26-man roster. Jason Alexander and Naoyuki Uwasawa are options with the WooSox.

Pivetta is eligible to come off the IL on April 21, when the Red Sox are set to play the Pirates.

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