RED SOX JOURNAL: Ailing Eovaldi pushed back again

Don’t expect to see Nathan Eovaldi anytime soon.

The Boston Red Sox starter has been down with a calf strain and hasn’t pitched since Aug. 20 against Baltimore. There was hope he’d be available for the series against Toronto, but manager Ron Roenicke said the right-hander won’t pitch in the series.

In his most recent bullpen sessions, according to Roenicke, Eovaldi still felt a little bit of pain in the calf so [...]

Don’t expect to see Nathan Eovaldi anytime soon.

The Boston Red Sox starter has been down with a calf strain and hasn’t pitched since Aug. 20 against Baltimore. There was hope he’d be available for the series against Toronto, but manager Ron Roenicke said the right-hander won’t pitch in the series.

In his most recent bullpen sessions, according to Roenicke, Eovaldi still felt a little bit of pain in the calf so he’s been pushed back again.

"We don’t want him to go out there and pitch when he’s not 100 percent ready," Roenicke said. "If he feels this again, it could cost him — especially if it sets him back to where he was a couple weeks ago — it could cost him the rest of the season and we don’t want that to happen."

Shelving Eovaldi for the remainder of the season wouldn’t cost the Red Sox much in terms of the standings, but Roenicke seems intent on getting his ace on the mound again before things wrap up.

"He’ll throw another bullpen Sunday and we’ll see how that goes," Roenicke said. "Maybe Tuesday he may throw another bullpen and if he comes out of that, then I think we’re ready to feel better about putting him into the game and that this won’t flare up again."

With Eovaldi out, Roenicke was unsure how the rotation would line up for the weekend. He said Zack Godley would start Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader, followed by Chris Mazza.

"We’ll see how [Thursday] goes, we’ll see how [Friday] goes and then make a decision on the next couple after that," Roenicke said.

Sox sign Grullon

There’s been a lot of new names and faces coming through Boston this season. Now it’s time to learn another one.

He won’t be at Fenway Park quite yet, but Thursday the Red Sox announced they claimed catcher Deivy Grullon off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies and optioned him to the Alternate Training Site at McCoy Stadium.

Grullon is 24 and made his Major League debut last season. He only played four games for the Phillies, but was a AAA mid-season All-Star while playing for Lehigh Valley. Grullon batted .283 for the IronPigs, hitting 21 homers and driving in 77 while scoring 55 in 108 games.

The addition of Grullon puts the Red Sox’s Club Player Pool at 59.

Dalbec cools after hot start

Bobby Dalbec’s Major League career couldn’t have started much better. Making his MLB debut Aug. 30 against the Washington Nationals, the Red Sox rookie hit a home run in his second at-bat as part of a 2-for-4 day in Boston’s 9-5 win.

His next two games didn’t go quite as well, as Dalbec struck out six times and went hitless in eight at-bats in two games against Atlanta.

Right now, Roenicke wants to make sure the 25-year old doesn’t start to panic.

"It’s hard when you come to the big leagues especially — and he had that good first game — but if you don’t continue to do that you start to question and then you start to press," Roenicke said. "We’re seeing at-bats that he’s usually patient, usually doesn’t chase out of the zone too much and he’s doing that."

Dalbec’s not going to be able to fix things sitting on the bench. In a season where the Sox would benefit from developing a player like Dalbec with 2021 in mind, Roenicke had the rookie back out there hitting eighth against the Blue Jays.

"We just have to get him out of the zone, get him back to the positive mindset knowing ‘If they make a mistake, I’m going to hit it hard’ and don’t worry about the results," Roenicke said. "If you strike out a couple times, don’t go up there and worry about striking out.

"… If he does that and continues to do that we’ll see a lot better at-bats. It’s really easy to say, but really difficult to do."

Brewer to IL

The Red Sox placed right-hander Colten Brewer on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Tuesday) with a right third finger strain. To fill Brewer’s spot on the active roster, the team recalled Marcus Walden from the Alternate Training Site in Pawtucket. Brewer, 27, is 0-3 with a 5.61 ERA in 11 appearances this season.