Red Sox schedule split doubleheader with Orioles after rainout
A rainout forced the Red Sox to postpone a game, leading to a split doubleheader against the Orioles on Wednesday, with roster moves and injury updates affecting both teams.
The Boston Red Sox will play a split-admission doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday at Fenway Park, with the first game slated for 1:35 p.m. and the nightcap at the usual 7:10 p.m. start. Left-hander Jake Bennett, who was scratched from the original lineup due to "moderate soreness" and feeling "a little under the weather," will start the opener opposite Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer. In the nightcap, Baltimore will start right-hander Kyle Bradish, making his first start since signing a five-year, $90 million contract extension, while the Red Sox will name a starter later, with Ranger Suarez listed as a possible option.
If Suarez is not ready, Boston could revert to a bullpen game, with left-hander Eduardo Rivera and right-hander Brayan Bello available for long relief. The rainout may benefit the Red Sox’s bullpen, as they likely would have been without closer Aroldis Chapman and setup man Garrett Whitlock, who had each pitched three of the previous four days. A scheduled off-day on Thursday should allow the staff to recover from the doubleheader workload.
In an unusual roster move, the Red Sox recalled reliever Zack Kelly from Triple-A and placed him on the 60-day injured list, freeing a spot on the 40-man roster. Kelly, who last pitched for Boston in mid-May, suffered a stress reaction in his right elbow and is expected to be eligible to return in late September.
"Nothing imminent as far as any other moves," interim manager Chad Tracy said.
Catcher Willson Contreras continues to manage a bruised left foot sustained two weeks ago. Tracy noted that the injury flares up with sudden stops or starts but does not affect his performance on a smooth run. Contreras has hit .385 with two homers and five RBIs in four games despite the issue.
Tracy will also attend Thursday’s Worcester Red Sox Hall of Fame induction ceremony, honoring his five-season tenure as the Triple-A manager, where he compiled a 354-331 record. The ceremony will be free to fans and broadcast live on NESN.