Injuries continue to plague the Boston Red Sox‘s starting rotation, with Ranger Suarez becoming the latest pitcher to sustain an injury while pitching for the team this season.
Starting for Boston in Sunday’s series finale with the Los Angeles Angels, Suarez left the game after 2 and 2/3 innings with left abductor tightness. While attempting to field a ground ball, the now two-time All-Star — Suarez was named to the American League All-Star team on Saturday — felt a pinch in his groin, which led to his removal from the game.
“Felt a big pinch around the groin area,” Suarez said through interpreter Daveson Pérez to Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com. “Tried to throw another pitch, but still felt it. So I came out.”
The most notable signing by the Red Sox in the offseason (five years, $130 million), this injury puts the chances of Suarez pitching in the All-Star Game in question. That absence could leave Aroldis Chapman as the Red Sox’ lone representative.
Suarez has been one of the Red Sox’s best starters this season, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.15 ERA (ninth-best in the AL) and a .232 batting average against in 17 starts.
Despite the desire to pitch in the city (Philadelphia) where he spent the majority of his career (he signed by the Phillies in 2012 as an amateur free agent), Suarez is focused on his health and the second half rather than the All-Star Game.
“No, not thinking about that,” Suarez said. “For me, the most important thing is just to be as healthy as possible for the second half.”
Ranger Suarez’s injury shows the fragility of the Red Sox’s starting rotation
The Red Sox’s starting rotation has been one of the more injured staffs in baseball. Suarez leaving with an injury marked the second Red Sox starter in about a week to be pulled from their outing. Fellow left-hander Connelly Early left his start early on June 30 (4.0 innings) with left elbow inflammation. According to Tim Healey and Pete Abraham, Early is getting a second opinion on his ailing elbow this week.