Red Sox place Nathan Eovaldi (right calf strain) on the injured list

BOSTON --- The Red Sox are down to one member of their projected starting rotation entering spring training.

Nathan Eovaldi has been placed on the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with what manager Ron Roenicke described as a right calf strain. Eovaldi’s next possible outing could fall Saturday against the Blue Jays.

It’s the fifth straight season Eovaldi has landed on the IL. His right elbow accounted for the other four stints – Tommy John [...]

BOSTON --- The Red Sox are down to one member of their projected starting rotation entering spring training.

Nathan Eovaldi has been placed on the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with what manager Ron Roenicke described as a right calf strain. Eovaldi’s next possible outing could fall Saturday against the Blue Jays.

It’s the fifth straight season Eovaldi has landed on the IL. His right elbow accounted for the other four stints – Tommy John surgery midway through 2016 also cost him all of the following year, and loose bodies in the elbow forced down time in 2018 and 2019.

"We’ve been kind of chasing this thing around with the calf," Roenicke said. "Yesterday’s bullpen was definitely the best we’ve had. I kind of felt like it was going to be a while anyway.

"Being able to backdate it and have a plan for him, we feel real good about him being ready on Saturday. I think even though we know we’re losing him at least I know now with the MRI it’s nothing serious."

Eovaldi is 2-2 with a 4.98 earned-run average and was coming off his best outing of the season in a 7-1 victory over the Orioles on Aug. 20. Eovaldi allowed just one earned run while ripping through seven innings, the first Boston starter to reach that frame in the club’s first 26 games. Baltimore managed just a solo homer by Pat Valaika.

Eovaldi was scratched from his scheduled Wednesday start against Toronto with what Roenicke described as calf cramps. Eovaldi felt discomfort playing long toss in Baltimore and again when he attempted to throw his normal bullpen session at Camden Yards. Friday was the first time Eovaldi has worked off a mound since his last start against the Orioles.

"You always wonder what’s going on and how long it’s going to last," Roenicke said. "We feel pretty good about what it is and when he’ll be back."

Last season also saw Eovaldi hit the injured list after his best early outing. He allowed a lone unearned run to the Yankees through six innings in a 5-3 loss on April 17. Eovaldi appeared to have found something after being pounded for 14 earned runs in 15 innings, but he didn’t pitch again until July 22.

It was a sour start to the four-year, $68-million deal Eovaldi signed with the club in November 2018. He was a key July trade acquisition from the Rays as the Red Sox steamrolled their way to a fourth World Series championship this century. Eovaldi worked to a 1.61 ERA in six playoff appearances, covering 22 1/3 innings as both starter and late-inning reliever.

The Red Sox are 4-2 when Eovaldi takes the mound and entered Saturday night’s game against the Nationals just 6-20 otherwise. He owns all but one of the club’s four quality starts and has totaled 33 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. Boston starters own a 6.66 ERA through 32 games this season, and only the ghastly 7.22 ERA accumulated by the Tigers ranks worse in the big leagues.

Chris Sale (left elbow) and Eduardo Rodriguez (heart) won’t throw a pitch this season. David Price was traded to the Dodgers along with Mookie Betts and Rick Porcello signed with the Mets in free agency. That makes Eovaldi the lone remaining member of last season’s rotation, and Martin Perez is the last of the projected Red Sox starters entering February.

Chris Mazza was activated from the alternate site at Pawtucket in a corresponding move. He started the middle game of this weekend series with Washington. Zack Godley and Colten Brewer are scheduled to pitch Sunday and Monday, respectively.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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