James Paxton leaves game after just 63 pitches
The Red Sox removed James Paxton from his start on Saturday afternoon after just 4 innings and 63 pitches against the White Sox. The team announced that the left-hander is dealing with right knee soreness.
Paxton was pitching well prior to being lifted from the game. He only allowed one run, two hits (solo blast to Yasmani Grandal) with no walks while striking out three.
The southpaw threw 42 fastballs, averaging 94.7 mph and topping out at 96.7 mph, per Baseball Savant. He also mixed in his other pitches well, his knuckle-curveball 12 times while enticing four swings and one whiff and he tossed his cutter seven times and changeup twice.
Paxton has been one of the Sox best starters this season pitching to a 3.19 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.
It’s unclear of the severity of Paxton’s injury, but if he is to miss any time, it would be a major blow to the Sox rotation. Boston is already without Chris Sale who is on the 60-day IL with stress reaction in his left shoulder blade and Tanner Houck is on the 15-day IL after taking a line drive off the face and will have a metal plate put in his face.
If Paxton misses any time on the IL the Sox could turn to Brandon Walter who made his big league debut on Thursday against the Twins. He was optioned back to Triple-A Worcester after his appearance and is not eligible to come back for 15 unless there’s an injury to someone on the 26-man roster.
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