The Boston Red Sox entered the weekend with a five‑and‑a‑half game cushion for the American League’s second wild‑card spot, but the optimism was tempered by a flurry of moves in the bullpen.
A Bullpen Under Pressure
Right‑hander Justin Slaten was placed on the 15‑day injured list on Tuesday after doctors identified right elbow inflammation, a setback that follows Garrett Whitlock’s similar stint on the shelf retroactive to August 10. The club responded by summoning left‑hander Raymond Burgos from Triple‑A Worcester, where the 27‑year‑old had posted a 2.45 ERA and 1.11 FIP in 17 appearances earlier this month.
Burgos made his first major‑league appearance against Oakland, surrendering two solo homers, but the outing underscored both the promise and the volatility of a relief unit that has allowed 14 earned runs over 25 ⅔ innings across eight games.
Even as the Red Sox boast the league’s best 20‑9 record since the All‑Star break, the recent skid — just two wins in their last eight games — has exposed a bullpen that can no longer be counted on to shut down opponents in the late innings.