Red Sox Journal: Devers replaces Kinsler on disabled list

BOSTON — One hamstring injury replaced another among the Red Sox inactive on Friday.

Ian Kinsler (left hamstring strain) was back in uniform while Rafael Devers (left hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. Kinsler started at second base, batting sixth, while Devers is out of action for the third time in five weeks.

"A good one and a bad one," Boston manager Alex [...]

BOSTON — One hamstring injury replaced another among the Red Sox inactive on Friday.

Ian Kinsler (left hamstring strain) was back in uniform while Rafael Devers (left hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. Kinsler started at second base, batting sixth, while Devers is out of action for the third time in five weeks.

“A good one and a bad one,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.

Kinsler played in just three games after his trade-deadline acquisition from the Angels, leaving the second of a four-game series with the Yankees in the first inning. He rehabbed with Single-A Lowell, then returned to the Red Sox during their two-game series with the Phillies this week. Kinsler went through a full baseball workout on Tuesday, faced Eduardo Rodriguez (right ankle) in a simulated game on Wednesday and was ready to go on Friday night for the opener of the weekend series against the Rays.

“Every day you just keep pushing it until you feel normal,” Kinsler said on Wednesday. “That’s kind of the process. I guess it’s the same for any lower body muscle strain.”

“He’s a full go as far as running the bases, which is very important for him and for us,” Cora said. “That’s something that we take a lot of pride in, and he’s going to be a big part of the offense and running. Defensively, we know he’s going to be fine.”

Devers was sidelined twice in July, first due to left shoulder inflammation and then by straining the same hamstring. He played in just six games beginning with his Aug. 8 return in Toronto, going 4-for-22 with eight strikeouts. Eduardo Nunez filled in at third base on Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Cora said. “Hopefully, like the first one, we’ll be able to stop it right on time.”

An easy solution for the Red Sox, barring any setbacks, would be to activate Devers after rosters expand to 40 players on Sept. 1. Boston likely wouldn’t be forced to designate anyone for assignment or send anyone to the minors. Cora said he’d like to see the third baseman possibly play more than the one rehab game he managed with the Spinners last week.

“We’ll talk to him — I did talk to him already — and he understood,” Cora said. “We’ll make sure when he comes back that he’s ready to go.”

Welcomed rest

Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes was available for work on Friday night after four straight days' rest.

Barnes worked three consecutive days in Baltimore last weekend and was among those Boston relievers who were a bit taxed entering the brief series with Philadelphia. Cora used Heath Hembree to set up Craig Kimbrel in a 2-1 win on Tuesday and didn’t encounter a situation where Barnes would have been required in a 7-4 loss on Wednesday.

“I do feel we went through a stretch there — I don’t want to say that we overused him, but we went through two tough starts on that road trip,” Cora said. “The doubleheader, like I said the other day, there was a lot of red, orange and yellow on my card as far as relievers.”

Barnes has pitched to a career-low 2.60 earned-run average in 51 appearances this season, striking out a career-high 14 batters per nine innings. He’s also allowing a career-low 5.7 hits per nine.

“With the Monday off and Thursday off, he should be fine,” Cora said. “For them to go out there and compete at that level and give us three outs regardless of if they give up one in a three-run game, we’re fine with it.”

Around the bases

J.D. Martinez drew a two-out walk in the first inning on Friday, becoming just the third Boston player to reach base safely in 50 straight home games. Ted Williams (69 games, 1941) and Joe Foy (54, 1966) are the others to do so. Williams became the last player to crack the .400 barrier in that special year, finishing with a .406 average. … Boston plays six of its next 10 games against Tampa Bay. The Red Sox visit Tropicana Field for the final time this season next weekend, a three-game set from Aug. 24-26. … Cora used part of his pregame session to wish rehabbing second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) a happy birthday. Pedroia, who remains at his offseason home in Arizona, turned 35 on Friday.

— bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25