Pink Sox accidents: Jarren Duran positioned on 10-day IL; Tanner Houck to make first begin since June 16

Pink Sox outfielder Jarren Duran goes to need to spend a while on the shelf.

On Tuesday night, Boston introduced that Duran can be positioned on the 10-day IL (retroactive to Aug. 21) on account of a left nice toe sprain.

The Pink Sox made a number of corresponding strikes forward of Tuesday’s street matchup in opposition to the Astros.

Tanner Houck was reinstated from the 15-day IL and is anticipated to pitch on Tuesday evening in opposition to Justin Verlander.

Will probably be the righty’s first look within the huge leagues since June 16, with Houck on the mend for over two months whereas recovering from a facial fracture. Houck took a line drive off the face throughout his final outing in opposition to the Yankees, necessitating surgical procedure to place a small steel plate in his face.

The Pink Sox additionally referred to as up slugging outfielder prospect Wilyer Abreu from the Worcester Pink Sox, with the 24-year-old anticipated to earn some reps instead of Duran over the approaching weeks. 

Abreu has been on a tear down in Triple-A over the previous few weeks, slashing .424/.528/.949 with 9 house runs and 29 RBIs in August.

Boston additionally optioned lefty Chris Murphy to Worcester following Monday’s 9-4 loss in Houston.

Duran exited Boston’s win over the Yankees on Sunday within the eighth inning on account of his toe damage. Whereas Alex Cora and the Pink Sox have been initially hopeful that Duran was going to dodge a visit to the IL, that optimism waned over the previous few days.

Duran, 26, has been one of many high surprises for the Pink Sox this season as a dynamic participant on the plate and on the basepaths. However he has cooled off as of late, batting simply .143 with two extra-base hits, one RBI, and 10 strikeouts over his 13 video games (35 at-bats).

When Duran is at his finest, he typically makes use of his game-changing velocity to place himself in scoring place, be it by means of steals (24-for-26 on stolen-base makes an attempt) or legging out doubles off of seemingly innocent base hits into shallow areas of the outfield. He ranks fourth in MLB with 34 doubles in 2023.

But when Duran’s velocity is severely hampered on account of his toe damage, the Pink Sox probably don’t need to danger additional damage and sap one in every of Duran’s high strengths by forcing him to play with a nagging ailment.