UPDATE: Hanley Ramirez is in the starting lineup for the Boston Red Sox.
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The Boston Red Sox are having enough trouble winning games already, so they certainly do not need to lose their most-productive hitter for any length of time. Fortunately, it looks like Hanley Ramirez will not need the disabled list after X-rays on his left hand came back negative.
Ramirez took a 93-mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels starter Garrett Richards off the left hand Friday night as he batted in the bottom of the fourth inning (video). He took first base and stayed in the game for a short while longer. In the top of the sixth, though, Daniel Nava took Ramirez's place in left field as soreness set in.
MLB.com's Ian Browne says, "Ramirez will return to the lineup when the soreness goes away." As of 1:45 p.m EDT, the Red Sox had not yet announced Saturday night's lineup with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15.
Browne quoted Red Sox manager John Farrell discussing the injury and whether or not Ramirez will play Saturday. Said Farrell,
"We'll check on him when he comes in tomorrow, but after the hit by pitch, he had a difficult time gripping the bat and we had to get him out of there."
Farrell also discussed the situation that Nava may find himself in and described it as a role that the young outfielder knows well and normally succeeds in filling:
"Well, he's in a situation where he's coming in to spell guys and that was the case here tonight. Daniel has had very good stretches for us and is a very productive hitter. We know early last year he was in a situation similar to where he's at right now."
Entering play on May 23, the Red Sox are 23rd in the Major Leagues in runs scored and 13th in the American League. Ramirez, though, has done his job very well, hitting .257/.306/.486 with 10 HR, 22 RBI, and 22 R in 38 games.