Red Sox Suffer Brutal Blow to Pitching Staff

It was supposed to be a storybook reunion for the Boston Red Sox, with the return of James Paxton to the starting rotation, to help make a push for a playoff spot down the stretch.

Unfortunately, it seems that the book is pretty much closed on that storybook now, as Paxton has suffered a torn calf and is a "long shot" to return this season.

Alex Cora labeled it a 'long shot' that James Paxton will pitch again this season.
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) August 13, 2024

Paxton suffered a partial tear of the right calf muscle in his last start on Sunday, and while the timetable doesn’t look good for a return this season, Paxton himself is not ready to give up on the season and will start rehab immediately.

But sports doctor Jesse Morse reports that while a four-to-six-week recovery period is possible (making for a return by the end of September), he says that this type of injury is "notorious for slow healing and high reinjury risk."

Paxton, now 35, has had his share of injuries throughout his career, and missed essentially two full seasons, 2021 and 2022 due to Tommy John surgery.

He came back and performed admirably for the Red Sox in 2023, posting a 7-5 mark in 19 starts, with a 4.50 ERA and a 101:33 K/BB ratio.

He began this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and went 8-2 for them, but they designated him for assignment and then traded him to Boston, in advance of their own acquisition of Jack Flaherty at the deadline.

This season overall, The Big Maple has a 9-3 mark with a 4.40 ERA, but now will most likely be out until 2025.

As for the Red Sox, their rotation is back down to the solid four-man group they've relied on most of the season, in Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta. Who will take the fifth slot is up for grabs.