BOSTON — Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu looked like a candidate to be placed on the injured list Monday after leaving Sunday’s loss with right calf tightness. It was another outfielder, though, who hit the shelf in a series of pregame roster moves.
Boston placed veteran Rob Refsnyder on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 15, with a left oblique strain. Abreu remained on the active roster and is considered day-to-day. He’s not starting Monday against the Orioles and left-hander Trevor Rogers. Boston activated new first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and called up infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton before the game. Lowe and Eaton took the spots of Refsnyder and third catcher Ali Sánchez (who was designated for assignment).
If he’s ready, Refsnyder can be activated as soon as next Monday (August 25), when the Red Sox start a four-game series in Baltimore.
Refsnyder has not played since Wednesday, when he pinch hit for Connor Wong in the ninth inning of a loss in Houston. The Red Sox faced three righties over the weekend against Miami but didn’t use Refsnyder as a pinch-hitter against lefty relievers. The 34-year-old started feeling oblique discomfort a few days ago during batting practice and wasn’t feeling better by Monday.
“He started feeling it during BP a few days ago. Yesterday, he felt it more…,” said Alex Cora. “The last few days, he hasn’t felt great. I think it makes sense to put him on the IL and get him back, hopefully by next week.
“It was more than one day. It has been going on for the last few days, so it makes sense.”
Refsnyder has played 54 games for the Sox this year, hitting .272 with six homers, 22 RBIs and an .827 OPS. He has a .905 OPS against lefties and has started 32 games against them. Without Refsnyder, the Red Sox will use the right-handed hitting Eaton against lefty pitchers like Rogers and perhaps New York’s Max Fried and Carlos Rodón this weekend in the Bronx.
Abreu’s availability remains in question for Tuesday’s game, when righty Tomoyuki Sugano is scheduled to pitch for Baltimore. The Red Sox could have Abreu rest before Wednesday’s scheduled off day in an effort to have him ready for the four games in the Bronx.
“Willy is sore, tight,” said Cora. “We’ll take it day by day. A lot of improvement from last night. We feel positive on that one. We’ll see what happens. It doesn’t mean it’s not an IL but we’ll be patient and see how it goes.”
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