Triston Casas is the latest Boston Red Sox player expected to miss extended time on the injured list.
The first baseman was scratched from Saturday’s game after being injured on a swing in Pittsburgh. He was later placed on the IL because of left rib strain, but on Tuesday, manager Alex Cora told reporters in Cleveland that Casas had a fractured rib and would miss significant time. He expects Casas to be able to play later this season, but did not give a timetable for his recovery.
Casas has a fracture. He will be away for an extended period of time. Back this season but the team does not give a timetable. Dalbec will be the first baseman.
– Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 23, 2024
With a dozen players already on the IL, the Red Sox can ill afford to sideline one of their best hitters for an extended period of time, but they will have to make do.
Casas had played in all 22 games for the Red Sox up to the time of the injury, hitting .244 with an .857 OPS, six home runs and three doubles.
In Casas’ absence, Cora said Bobby Dalbec would spend the majority of playing time at first base. Dalbec has long struggled for consistency at the plate at the major league level, and in 14 games this season he is just 1-for-30 with 18 strikeouts and three walks.
Utilityman Pablo Reyes also saw time at first base and Rob Refsnyder, who just returned from the IL (fractured toe), could also see time at first base. It’s also possible the Red Sox could look for a first baseman outside the organization. The Chicago Cubs recently designated first baseman Garrett Cooper for assignment. In 12 games for Chicago, Cooper hit .270 with a .774 OPS, despite having a strikeout rate of over 30 percent.
In the meantime, the Red Sox have been without several key players for varying periods of time: shortstop Trevor Story (shoulder surgery), starters Nick Pivetta (flexor strain) and Garrett Whitlock (strain oblique) and second baseman Vaughn Grissom (hamstring strain). ) among the most remarkable. Third baseman Rafael Devers played in just 13 of 23 games, initially because of shoulder soreness before a bone bruise in his knee developed last week. He didn’t make the IL and was expected to return to the lineup Tuesday, but the Red Sox are giving him one more day. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill was on the IL for eight days with a concussion, but returned to the active roster Tuesday.
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(Casas photo: Eric Canha / USA Today)