Sox taking talents across the pond to face Yankees

BOSTON -- The Red Sox traveling squad for this weekend’s London Series is beginning to take shape.

Nathan Eovaldi (right elbow), Heath Hembree (right elbow) and Mitch Moreland (right quadriceps) will all remain in Boston working their way back from various injuries. Steve Pearce (lower back strain) is likely to continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket.

“It’s far and it’s only two games and you’ve got off days and you’ve got to have 26 guys who can perform,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’ve been talking about it the last few days and we’ll talk about it tonight and make decisions accordingly.”

Hembree threw a bullpen session prior to Tuesday night’s game with the White Sox. He could begin a rehab assignment in the coming days barring any setbacks. Hembree and Pearce are both on track to potentially join Boston during its three-game series in Toronto next week.

Eovaldi was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create a 40-man roster spot for Steven Wright, who was activated Tuesday after serving his 80-game suspension. Eovaldi has been out of action since the third week of April, which is more than 60 days – it’s strictly a procedural decision by the Red Sox. Josh Smith was optioned to the PawSox to create space on the 25-man roster for Wright.

Hitting the road

It will be a four-city road swing for certain members of Boston’s traveling party.

London, Toronto and Detroit will be followed by a short trip to Cleveland for the All-Star Game on July 9. Cora has earned the right to serve as the American League manager after reaching the World Series with the Red Sox in 2018.

“That’s a lot of packing,” Cora said. “Or a lot of shopping – one of the two. Looking forward to Cleveland. That’s something as a baseball fan, just being around all those guys is going to be amazing.”

Cora will enlist his former Boston manager, Terry Francona, as one of his bench coaches. Francona has served as the manager for the hometown Indians since the start of the 2013 season. Cora also explored the idea of having his brother Joey on staff, borrowing Pittsburgh’s third base coach from the National League for one night.

“We talked a little bit about bringing my brother, but it was kind of late and he already had plans,” Cora said. “He had vacation. He didn’t cancel it.

“When I asked him he was like, ‘We have plans already.’ I was like (sarcastically), ‘Thank you. Appreciate it.’ The kids – his kids – are going to be in London and then after that they’re going to a resort for the All-Star break. They already set it up.”

Bruised up Brock

Brock Holt remains hopeful of avoiding the injured list after suffering left hamstring tightness on Sunday.

“We’ll stay away from him today and most likely tomorrow and see how he reacts,” Cora said. “We still have three days we don’t play in the next 10 days. The problem is we need him. We rely on him to be ready.”

Holt was the lone Boston position player unused in Monday’s 6-5 walkoff victory over Chicago. Eduardo Nunez started at second base on Monday and Marco Hernandez drew the start on Tuesday. Hernandez came off the bench as a pinch runner on Monday and eventually hit the winning single in the ninth.

Inside baseball 

Cora’s unconventional pitching change on Monday was still a topic of discussion the following afternoon.

The manager removed Colten Brewer prior to a 3-and-2 pitch to Jon Jay in the eighth inning on Monday. Josh Taylor was summoned to go left-left with Jay and threw an inside fastball to complete a walk. Taylor then struck out Yoan Moncada, ending the inning.

Cora said on his weekly WEEI radio appearance the thought stemmed from a Winter Ball game during his playing career. He was at the plate in an 0-and-2 count when the lights went out, forcing a postponement to the following day. Cora said he spent the night preoccupied by what would happen on the next pitch he saw.

“It kind of caught me by surprise when he first came out there,” Brewer said. “I didn’t really know what to say. In that time of the game I guess it’s more important for the guy to get out.”