Red Sox to place Kenley Jansen on IL; Casas offensive explosion; pitching probables in Toronto
The Red Sox swept the day/night doubleheader against the Twins at Fenway Park on Sunday, taking two of three games in the series. Boston moved back to the .500 mark for the 23rd time this season and sits four games out of a playoff spot with six games to play.
Despite the wins, the Red Sox lost another key member of their team; Rafael Devers was placed on the 10-day injured list with shoulder inflammation on Saturday, and on Sunday, Alex Cora told reporters that closer Kenley Jansen’s should isn’t bouncing back as they had hoped and he would be placed on the injured list.
Jansen last pitched in Game 1 of the doubleheader, but following the outing, the team will place the veteran on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation.
“He’s been dealing with the shoulder, and recovering is not the thing right now for him,” said Cora to reporters postgame. “He’s been struggling with that.”
The pending free agent has likely thrown his last pitch for the Red Sox on Sunday. With his season officially coming to an end, the right-hander finishes the season with 27 saves, his lowest total (not counting the COVID-shortened season) since 2014.
Jansen appeared in 54 games while posting a 4-2 record with a 3.29 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings.
Boston will recall right-handed rookie reliever Chase Shugart to take Jansen’s place, according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford.
Justin Slaten and Chris Martin will be the Red Sox’ ninth inning options for the final six games.
“It’ll be good for Slaten to get his feet wet in that role, but at the same time we got Marty, but we’ll mix and match,” Cora said Sunday.
In 42 appearances this season, the right-handed hurler has a 3.04 ERA with nine walks and 57 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings. He does have one save under his belt for the season. With Jansen out, this will be an opportunity for the 27-year-old to show he could be a ninth-inning option for the Red Sox next season.
Liam Hendriks had hoped to get into a game before the end of the season, but all signs are pointing to Boston shutting him down.
Triston Casas was a massive reason the Sox won the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday against the Twins. The slugger crushed three homers in the opening game, two of which came off Twins starter Pablo López.
Casas became the first Red Sox hitter to belt three home runs in a game since Trevor Story on May 19, 2022, versus the Mariners.
In the bottom of the first inning, Boston got singles from Romy Gonzalez and Masataka Yoshida before Casas launched a three-run homer to deep right-center field.
He then added another three-run shot off a four-seam heater from López, this time cleaning the Green Monster. His third dinger was a solo shot off of Twins receiver Brent Headrick.
“I loved the one down the left-field line,” said Casas. “That was my favorite. Just being able to stay inside a two-strike fastball, not wanting to roll into a double play, that was money right there.”
Kutter Crawford turned out a strong start in the second game on Sunday night. With his outing, he surpassed 150 innings on the mound, and he made his 32nd start. His 32 starts this season lead the big leagues and are a career high for the righty.
Crawford hurled 7 2/3 innings, the longest outing of the season as the Sox took Game 2, 9-3.
“It feels good setting goals early in the year, trying to be healthy, trying to be durable,” said Crawford to reporters after the game. “But not only that, but also trying to go out there and throw six innings every time. Obviously, the record isn’t one of what I want it to be, but, but yeah, it’s a good feeling, especially late in the season.”
It’s not known how the Red Sox will handle their rotation for the final series this weekend with the Rays. As of now, Crawford could make a 33rd start this year; if he doesn’t, he will end the year with a 4.17 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, making 32 starts and throwing 179 1/3 innings.
On Sunday, Vaughn Grissom started his first game at second base for the first time since returning to the team. He went 1-for-4, and the Red Sox plan to get Grissom as many at-bats and innings at the position over the next week.
This season was a disappointment for Grissom, who struggled with injuries dating back to the spring and spent the majority of the season with the WooSox. Boston still views Grissom as part of their future and will be an option at second base heading into 2025.
“Vaughn is a big part of it,” Cora said. “The big trade in the offseason—he didn’t have a great year, starting in spring training. He was banged up. But this guy has always hit; he looks stronger, and he’s moving better. So we’ll see what happens in the offseason. But he’s part of this.”
More on Vaughn Grissom:
The Red Sox will begin a three-game series in Toronto on Monday night. This will be the final road series for Boston this season before wrapping up the regular season with the Rays at Fenway Park this weekend.
The pitching probables for the series with the Blue Jays:
Monday: Tanner Houck (8-10, 3.21 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (10-13, 4.16 ERA)
Tuesday: Brayan Bello (14-8, 4.49 ERA) vs. Bowden Francis (8-5, 3.47 ERA)
Wednesday: Richard Fitts (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Kevin Gausman (13-11, 3.91 ERA)
Fitts will make one last start before the season ends; he has made three starts and has yet to give up an earned run. He’s allowed two runs off 13 hits while walking five and striking out seven.
The rookie became the first pitcher in Red Sox history to pitch five-plus innings without allowing an unearned run over his first three career starts.
