Former starting first baseman Mike Napoli's scratch from the lineup minutes before the Boston Red Sox' 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday may have signaled the end of the veteran's tenure in Beantown, however, the same cannot be said for the late scratch of left fielder Hanley Ramirez before Saturday night's contest at Comerica Park.
After fouling a pitch off of his previously sore foot on Friday, Ramirez was replaced in the starting lineup just 30 minutes before first pitch against the Tigers by manager John Farrell, who cited Ramirez' lingering discomfort with the nagging foot throughout the past few weeks as the reason for his departure from the batting order.
Alejandro De Aza took Ramirez' place in the lineup, as he bats seventh for Boston as they attempt to garner their third victory in four games.
The 31-year-old has batted .262 for the Red Sox this season with a .302 on-base percentage, while hitting 19 home runs and driving in 53 RBIs. Over the last seven days amid foot soreness, he has gone 6-for-24 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. His defensive deficiencies have certainly hampered Boston's positioning in the standings thus far, as he ranks amid the cellar of many of the league's fielding rankings.
In the bullpen, closer Koji Uehara will be missing as well on Saturday as he recovers from taking a line drive directly off of his right wrist in the ninth inning of Friday's win.
While X-rays on Uehara's wrist came back negative, the incident looked disastrous as it played out on the mound. Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who was eventually retired on the play for the final out of the ballgame, lined a come backer directly at Uehara's outstretched arm. The ball caromed off of the 40-year-old's wrist and evoked a display of agony, as Uehara jumped around, evidently attempting to shake off the pain, before collapsing to the turf on one knee.
Farrell told ESPN.com after the ballgame, “It’s a very big relief...X-rays came back negative, and I know his spirits were lifted a lot, given he’s down on one knee on the field after a win. I’m sure he’ll be sore, but thankfully there was no fracture or break. He’s day to day. There was a pretty good amount of swelling, which was instantaneous. We’ll see how he progresses.’’
Center fielder Mookie Betts is also making progress in his recovery from a concussion suffered against the White Sox on July 28th. Betts is expected to join Double-A Portland for a rehab assignment against the Akron Rubberducks on Sunday afternoon in Northeast Ohio before rejoining the major league club on Tuesday for their two-game series in Miami.
Betts took batting practice with the Red Sox on Saturday in Detroit.