The Boston Red Sox have placed left-handed reliever Josh Taylor on the 10-day injured list, and have recalled Eduardo Bazardo from Triple-A Worcester. Taylor joins fellow Sox bullpen arm, Garrett Whitlock, on the IL.
The #RedSox today placed LHP Josh Taylor on the 10-Day Injured List with a low back strain, retroactive to September 23.
To fill Taylor’s spot on the active major league roster, the Red Sox recalled RHP Eduard Bazardo from Triple-A Worcester.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 26, 2021
Boston used lefty Darwinzon Hernandez in a crucial situation Saturday, instead of Josh Taylor. Hernandez served up a grand slam to Giancarlo Stanton after hitting Anthony Rizzo to load the bases — the Red Sox lost, 5-3.
But manager Alex Cora revealed after the game that Taylor wasn’t feeling well, responding to many fans’ frustration over the decision. Cora said it was a back issue, and that he is undergoing an MRI today. The MRI seems to have come back with a result that wasn’t good.
The Sox lose a crucial southpaw, and he could potentially be out for the rest of the season. Remember, Boston’s season ends next Sunday — that’s seven days, and he likely won’t be off the IL by then — if it’s made exactly ten days, he still won’t even make it to the Wild Card game since that lies on Tuesday.
Bazardo has been with the Sox since 2015 when he was an international signing out of Venezuela. The 26-year-old right-hander has not allowed a run through two outings (three innings) with Boston this season — he has allowed 11 runs across 11.1 innings in Triple-A Worcester this season (8.74 ERA), but spent the majority of the season on the 60-day injured list.
(Photo of Josh Taylor by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)