PawSox starters resting up
Beeks, Chandler afforded extended break
PAWTUCKET – It would appear the Pawtucket Red Sox are providing two of their starting pitchers who happen to be on Boston’s 40-man roster with additional downtime.
Chandler Shepherd, who’s in the midst of his first pro season as starter, isn’t scheduled to start until this coming Monday when the PawSox visit Charlotte. That will amount to a 13-day break between starts for someone who’s already logged 81.1 innings after appearing in 59.2 innings out of the bullpen last season.
“It’s standard issue with what we’ve done in the past, but especially with Shepherd … this is a guy who was a reliever and the innings were starting to pile up,” PawSox manager Kevin Boles said. “Giving him additional rest will be beneficial.”
It’s unclear when lefty starter Jalen Beeks will be slotted back in, but it doesn’t appear the PawSox are in any rush to keep him on a normal five-day schedule. Beeks pitched as recently as Tuesday for the Red Sox and between Triple-A and the majors has completed 89 innings. Last year, Beeks threw 145 innings between Pawtucket and Double-A Portland.
“He’s soaked up a lot of innings this year,” Boles said about Beeks.
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EXTRA BASES: The first day back from the All-Star break brought with it a flurry of moves. Tzu-Wei Lin and his .308 batting average was recalled to Boston after the Red Sox placed Rafael Devers on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation. … The PawSox needed an infielder and losing Lin and placing Ivan De Jesus Jr. on the temporary inactive list. They got one in Tony Renda, who was hitting .374 in 26 games for Double-A Portland. He missed over a month after fracturing his hand but was hitting .389 (7-for-18) through four games with the Sea Dogs this month. Renda made his MLB debut with Cincinnati and can play second base, third base, and shortstop.
The 27-year-old batted second and played second base
for the PawSox on Thursday. … Outfielder Kyle Wren
collected his first PawSox in his first at-bat on Thursday after opening his Pawtucket career 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts. … Outfielder Rusney Castillo (hip tightness) wasn’t in the starting lineup was but available to pinch hit in an emergency. … Thursday’s attendance was 4,827. … After throwing two bullpens in the last week, PawSox pitcher Marcus Walden is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Friday. If all goes right, he could be heading to Single-A Lowell for a rehab assignment. Walden has been on Pawtucket’s disabled list since May 31 (right forearm inflammation). … Pawtucket took the field two under the roster limit with 23 active players. … Drew Pomeranz will make his fourth rehab appearance with the PawSox this season on Friday night. So far against Triple-A competition, the lefty is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA with 10 walks in 10 innings. Pomeranz is scheduled to pitch 4-5 innings and/or 75-80 pitches. … A reminder that the McCoy gates will open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night and the first 3,000 people through them will receive a G.O.A.T bobblehead that depicts a certain quarterback who wears No. 12 for the New England Patriots.