Paxton (knee) done for season

James Paxton’s season is over. The 34-year-old lefthander landed on the injured list with what the Red Sox described as right knee inflammation. The Red Sox skipped his scheduled start last week and had planned to have him start Tuesday against the Yankees. But with ongoing discomfort in his knee, an issue that popped up in a four-inning start against the White Sox June 24, and for which Paxton at times wore a brace, there was a change of plans.

“I don’t think it makes sense to push him,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “He’s been through so much throughout his career that at this point, where we are at, it doesn’t make sense.”

With three weeks left in the season, Paxton won’t pitch again this year. In 19 starts — more than tripling the number of outings he made while battling injuries from 2020-22 — he went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 96 innings while posting a 25 percent strikeout rate.

Paxton, who exercised a one-year, $4 million player option for this year after not pitching in 2022 on a oneyear, $6 million deal, was at times dominant for three months from mid-May to mid-August (3.34 ERA through 16 starts). But fatigue and injuries led to struggles in his last three starts, when he allowed 17 runs in 9„ innings.

“The medical staff did an outstanding job the last two years to get him to the point that he was one of the best pitchers in the big leagues. Just towards the end, the mechanics were off and the breaking ball he lost, and he became a one-dimensional pitcher,” said Cora. “But I’m very proud of him. It was amazing. And we’ll see what happens in the future.”

Paxton will be a free agent after this season, and said during the season he plans to keep pitching as long as he’s physically able to do so.

Could the team bring him back? “That’s a question for higher-ups,” said Cora.

Rafaela gets a start

For the first time since Sept. 5, Ceddanne Rafaela was in Sunday’s lineup. The 22-year-old was in the leadoff spot and in center field. He went 0 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts in the Red Sox’ 7-3 win over the Orioles at Fenway.

Though Rafaela had just 17 plate appearances in his first 13 days in the big leagues, he’s tried to use his dugout vantage point as a learning opportunity.

“Little things matter — small things that you can’t imagine,” said Rafaela. “There are a lot of little things that some people don’t care about, but it matters. I think that’s what I’ve learned a lot, just watching the game. Every pitch, every inning, every out, everything matters. You have to play the whole game. You have to play nine innings hard.”

Cora praised Rafaela’s baseball IQ, citing his recognition in a ninthinning at-bat Saturday of a chance to bunt for a hit. The staff has enjoyed the chance to get to know Rafaela and further his baseball education.

“He’s a good one. He understands what he needs to do. He’s always paying attention, talking to the players, talking to us,” said Cora. “Having him around, it means a lot. It’s going to benefit us in the future.”

Rafaela is 8 for 21, and the Sox are pleased with the progress in his swing decisions. Rafaela, however, said he’s not trying to use the next three weeks as an audition for 2024.

“I’m just trying to do my best. I’m not putting pressure on myself to do something this year to make me look good for next year,” said Rafaela. “I’m just being in the moment right now, trying to do my best to help the team win right now, and be ready next year for next year.”

With the Sox six games out of the wild-card picture with 19 games remaining, Cora acknowledged the Sox will give more opportunities to rookies Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Enmanuel Valdez. He said Abreu will play winter ball in Venezuela, Valdez will do so in the Dominican, and Rafaela might play in Puerto Rico.

Sticking with Sale

With Paxton sidelined, Nick Pivetta will return to the rotation for the remainder of the season and start the second of the four-game series against the Yankees this week.

Thursday’s starter has yet to be determined. Chris Sale will pitch if he bounces back well physically from Saturday’s poor outing (four innings, seven runs). If not, Sale will be pushed to Saturday and the Sox will have a bullpen game Thursday.

For now, the Sox aren’t discussing shutting down Sale even as he deals with the frustration of fluctuating stuff and command since returning from the injured list.

“The most important thing here is to take care of the player, especially where we are at right now,” said Cora.

“We’re not going to push him here to get him hurt. The goal here is for him to finish the season healthy and be ready for next year. He’ll keep working and he’ll go all the way to the finish line. We know that.”

Moving pieces

Garrett Whitlock returned from the bereavement list and the Red Sox recalled righthander Nick Robertson from Triple A Worcester. The team also optioned lefthander Joe Jacques

(2-1, 5.06) to Worcester . . . Corey

Kluber, who threw a scoreless inning for Worcester Saturday, is likely to make at least one more rehab start.