Knee injury sends Buttrey to 7-day DL
PAWTUCKET – The timing might not be ideal, yet hard-throwing PawSox reliever Ty Buttrey doesn’t sound too concerned after getting placed on the seven-day disabled list on Thursday with right knee inflammation.
The injury was the result of fielding a comebacker during the eighth inning of Pawtucket’s July 19 game at Charlotte. Buttrey was able to return to the mound that same night to pitch the ninth inning, which in retrospect helped calm him down after his body received a jolt.
“At the time, I didn’t think it was serious,” Buttrey said prior to the PawSox opening a three-game series against the same Charlotte squad at McCoy.
With pitching at a premium for the PawSox after losing starter Jalen Beeks (traded to Tampa Bay) and reliever Kyle Martin (signed with Japanese ballclub), manager Kevin Boles could only
hold a roster spot for Buttrey for so long. The 25-year-old hasn’t pitched since taking a baseball off his knee and after a few days, Buttrey didn’t feel any improvement.
“If you’re unable to go through your normal delivery, it’s probably best to err on the side of caution,” Buttrey said. “It’s something that was throwing my delivery off just a little bit.”
As a power pitcher, Buttrey uses his right leg to push off. Right now, he’s wearing a brace. He played catch on Friday but doesn’t have a bullpen session that’s scheduled any time soon.
“We’re taking it day by day right now,” Buttrey said. “Whatever they tell me is what I’m going to do.”
Buttrey was the first choice to replace Ryan Brasier as Pawtucket’s closer. He converted his first save chance on July 12 and made two subsequent appearances before getting hurt. Before his setback in Charlotte, he had not allowed an earned run in 20 of his previous 23 outings. Over that time, he posted a 0.87 ERA in 31 innings. Among qualifying International League pitchers, Buttrey ranked fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (13.09). On the season, he’s struck out 64 in 44 innings and held batters to a .216 batting average.
“You try not to think about that,” Buttrey said when asked about getting sidelined at a point in the season where players are looking to strength their case to be called up when MLB rosters are allowed to expand in September.
“It’s unfortunate because I want to help the big-league club win. My goal is to get up there,” said Buttrey, who’s on Boston’s 40-man roster. “We still have a month left in our season, but I think I’ll be back sooner rather than later, for sure.”
EXTRA BASES: Brandon Phillips returned to the lineup on Friday night, his first game action since last Saturday. The veteran second baseman missed some time earlier this week with muscle tightness in his chest. Phillips batted in the cleanup spot and served as Pawtucket’s designated hitter. … The PawSox added reliever Brandon Workman, one day after he was optioned to make room for newly acquired Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. Workman wasn’t in the clubhouse before it was closed to the media. … Pitching-wise for the rest of the series against Charlotte, Josh D. Smith (5-5, 3.05) starts tonight at 6:15. Tomorrow, the red-hot William Cuevas (7-5, 3.28) takes the mound in a 1:35 p.m. first pitch. Cuevas has posted a 1.74 ERA in three starts this month. … For the first 3,000 fans who pass through the turnstiles tonight, they’ll receive a Rafael Devers bobblehead. The gates open at 4:45. After the game, they’ll be fireworks set to Christmas-themed music. … Tomorrow Cox Communications will have its Virtual Reality Experience set up right outside the main gate. Beginning at 12:30, fans can step into the batter’s box and swing for the fences as part of Cox’s VR simulator. Also on hand to sign autographs will be Rhode Island and former Red Sox top prospect Ryan Westmoreland of Portsmouth.