MINNEAPOLIS — The Red Sox might find themselves short on bullpen arms in Monday’s series opener against the Twins, in part because of a very turbulent flight to Minneapolis on Sunday night.
Boston’s charter, which left Logan Airport hours after Sunday’s win over the Dodgers, encountered severe weather in the Midwest that left several members of the traveling party reeling due to motion sickness. The plane, which departed Boston around 7:30 p.m. ET, didn’t land at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport until around midnight CT (1 am ET). The trip included a quick diversion to Detroit, where the charter landed for a short period before taking off again, then landing in Minnesota through turbulence and weather.
“Rough flight last night,” said manager Alex Cora. “Very rough. For them. I don’t know, I slept through it. There were a lot of people banged up after that flight. We had to go through Detroit and then come here. When we got to Detroit, I fell asleep and all of the sudden, we were here. But it was pretty tough over there.”
Multiple players were still not feeling 100% when they arrived at Target Field before Monday’s 6:40 p.m. CT start. One was Garrett Whitlock, who walked gingerly through the visitor’s clubhouse with an IV line in. Cora acknowledged the team was unsure if Whitlock would be able to pitch against the Twins.
“We’ll see how he feels,” Cora said. “There’s stuff you can’t control. He had a rough morning, a rough night. He’s going to play catch right now, so we’ll decide.”
In addition to the after-effects of what one team broadcaster called “the worst flight of his life,” the Red Sox are also down an arm or two because of developments in Sunday’s win.
Closer Aroldis Chapman, who departed in the eighth inning due to back spasms, is unavailable Monday, Cora acknowledged. The All-Star is still on track to avoid the injured list.
“He’s doing OK,” said Cora. “We’ll stay away from him. He’s getting treatment and all that. Should be one or two days. We’re in a good spot.”
Cora also acknowledged the iffy availability of righty Jordan Hicks, who threw 25 pitches to record a five-out save in Chapman’s absence.
“We’ll talk about it. But I think we’re in a good spot regardless,” Cora said.
With a few key relievers potentially not available, the Red Sox would benefit from a good — and long — start from rookie righty Richard Fitts. Fitts struggled in his last outing Wednesday in Philadelphia, allowing four runs on six hits (including two homers) in just 3 ⅓ innings. That outing marked Fitts’ first time facing competition in 15 days. The Sox hope being on a regular turn will help him be more effective.
“Two or three weeks without throwing at any level is not easy,” Cora said. “He did his best that day. Hopefully, he can find his rhythm and give us more.
“Go out there and compete. Use your fastball the right way, use your secondary pitches and give us five or six innings.”
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