RED SOX JOURNAL: Injuries continue to haunt Boston

BOSTON — Yairo Munoz will end his first season with the Red Sox on the 10-day injured list.

The 25-year-old is battling back spasms and will be shut down for the club’s final eight games. Cesar Puello was selected to the 40-man roster, recalled from the alternate site and started in right field against the Yankees on Saturday night.

Munoz appeared in 12 games for Boston, knocking five doubles and posting an .844 OPS. [...]

BOSTON — Yairo Munoz will end his first season with the Red Sox on the 10-day injured list.

The 25-year-old is battling back spasms and will be shut down for the club’s final eight games. Cesar Puello was selected to the 40-man roster, recalled from the alternate site and started in right field against the Yankees on Saturday night.

Munoz appeared in 12 games for Boston, knocking five doubles and posting an .844 OPS. Previously a utility infielder with the Cardinals, the Red Sox primarily utilized Munoz in a corner outfield role. Boston has been on a search for depth — particularly in left field — since Andrew Benintendi (strained right rib cage) was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

"It’s just a shame right now," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "He was doing everything — running the bases well, driving the ball, putting it in play. He did a good job in the outfield and looks like he has good instincts."

Munoz was signed in March after an acrimonious parting with St. Louis. He’s declined to publicly address the nature of his split with the organization, instead spinning his attention to the future with the Red Sox. Munoz could find himself in the running for a bench role in 2021 with Boston scrambling to improve on this dreadful campaign.

Zack Godley (right elbow flexor strain) was transferred to the 45-day IL to create a 40-man spot for Puello. The right-hander made starts in seven of his eight appearances for the Red Sox, pitching to an 8.16 earned-run average. Godley allowed 42 hits and walked 14 in just 28 2/3 innings.

Alex Verdugo (hamstring tightness) was removed early from Friday’s night’s extra-inning loss to the Yankees and was out of the lineup on Saturday.

Verdugo exited after running the bases in the bottom of the third and went immediately to the Red Sox training room. He missed the final nine frames of the 6-5, 12-inning setback. With Puello in right Michael Chavis started in left field on Saturday.

"We’ll see tomorrow," Roenicke said. "They were going to work on him in the training room. I saw him before anybody worked on him, but he still felt it."

Verdugo was on an eight-game hitting streak and has settled in as Boston’s leadoff hitter. Among left-handed hitters with at least 50 plate appearances this season, he’s the only one batting at least .300 against both left-handed and right-handed pitching. Verdugo’s 15 doubles, 59 hits, 17 multi-hit games and 33 runs scored all rank him in the top 10 in the American League.

Starters improving

The Red Sox have finally found some rhythm among their starting pitchers.

At least five scoreless innings have been fired to open three of Boston’s last four games. Tanner Houck, Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez have done the honors over the last week. The Red Sox enjoyed one such start through their first 48 games, as Perez finished five scoreless against the Rays on Aug. 5.

"If you look at everybody this year that’s winning, they are pitching really well," Roenicke said. "That’s something we’re going to have to improve on if we’re going to compete in this division."

Boston entered the season without Chris Sale (left elbow) and Eduardo Rodriguez (myocarditis). Eovaldi spent time on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain, his fifth stint on the IL in the last five years. The Red Sox have employed 15 different starting pitchers and worked to a 5.88 earned-run average, which ranks third-worst in baseball.

"We know it was the big issue when we had the injuries," Roenicke said. "We tried to fill it with guys. Some guys came up and pitched well, and we know we’re going to need that. We’re not going to be able to compete with these teams unless we pitch really well."

One streak continues

His 10-game hitting streak came to an end on Friday night, but Rafael Devers carried another one with him into Saturday’s contest against the Yankees.

Devers has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games. His 0-for-5 performance in a 6-5, 12-inning loss included a walk. The Red Sox third baseman is slashing a sizzling .408/.468/.789 during that stretch with 29 hits, seven walks, seven home runs and 20 RBI.

"I’m always trying to get better every single day," Devers said through translator Bryan Almonte. "At the beginning of the year it didn’t go so well for me and I was able to right the ship. As I’ve always told you guys, that’s just a part of baseball."

Devers carried just a .167 average and .564 OPS through 16 games. Since then he’s exploded with a .338 average and a 1.013 OPS. His final numbers in 2019 included 29 home runs and 42 doubles from May 20 through the end of the season.

"I knew what I really needed to work on was my timing, because I really didn’t feel right at the plate," Devers said. "Once I got that down, that’s why I’ve been able to play as well as I have now."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25