Red Sox lefty James Paxton to undergo MRI Monday on injured calf
Red Sox left-hander James Paxton will undergo an MRI on his right calf on Monday to determine the severity of the injury.
Paxton was injured after throwing just five pitches on Sunday afternoon, attempting to cover first base on a grounder against the Astros. The lefty ran off the mound, grabbed his right calf, and went down to one knee before trainers ran to him on the field.
"I felt like I got kicked in the calf. Then, I kind of turned around, took another step, and I felt it again," Paxton said after the Astros beat the Red Sox 10-2, completing a three-game sweep. "I was like, 'It's not good. It's my calf.' I felt it pop."
Paxton would limp off the field following the injury, along with trainers and Alex Cora. He would slowly walk down the dugout steps before gingerly making his way to the Red Sox clubhouse.
"I've never had a calf [injury] before, first time," Paxton said. "It hurts. I was feeling really good. I was looking forward to helping this team go where they want to go. Hopefully, I can comeback at some point here before the end."
It’s unclear as to what time Paxton will undergo imaging on Monday and when the results will be made available to reporters.
"He'll get an MRI [Monday]," Cora said. "We'll see where we're at. Tough one. He's been healthy the whole season."
Paxton was making his third start with Boston since he was acquired by the Dodgers before the trade deadline. The addition of Paxton was to help anchor down the Red Sox starting rotation as they made a push towards the postseason. Instead, the southpaw’s season is now in jeopardy, with few internal options to fill his spot in the rotation.
The Red Sox will be getting Cooper Criswell back from the COVID-related IL, and Nick Pivetta is expected to rejoin the rotation after he was skipped a start to rest his fatigued arm. Pivetta is expected to start the series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore on Thursday, according to Cora.
Additional roster moves are expected on Monday; the club will option reliever Brennan Bernardino to Worcester, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. The bullpen was overworked this weekend in the series sweep versus the Astros. Other potential candidates to join the Red Sox are Bailey Horn or Joely Rodriguez. If Boston adds Rodriguez, they will need to make a 40-man roster move.
The Red Sox (61-55) are three games out of the final American League wild-card spot. The club has been swept four times this season, including getting swept in the second half by the Dodgers following the All-Star break.
