Reality has set in for the Red Sox that James Paxton is unlikely to return this season after suffering a partial tear in his right calf. Paxton made just three starts for the Sox after being acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline.
“Baseball aside, he’s having a good season, he’s healthy, and then all of a sudden this happens,” said manager Alex Cora on Tuesday. “I think right away he had a pretty good idea what was going on. We’ll see where we’re at in a few weeks, but just stay the course, get the rehab going, and hopefully he can contribute. But that looks like a long shot.”
With Paxton on the injured list, the Sox will have to navigate the void in their rotation.
Nick Pivetta will rejoin the rotation Thursday when the Sox start their road trip against the Orioles.
Righthander Cooper Criswell threw a bullpen Tuesday after landing on the injured list Aug. 9 with a bout of COVID. Cora said the session was “just a matter to see how he feels.”
Criswell missed his start last Saturday against the Astros, with Josh Winckowski taking the mound in his place. Criswell is eligible to come off the injured list Friday.
“The fact that he’s here throwing bullpens [means] hopefully is sooner rather than later,” Cora said.
Justin Slaten, on the injured list since July 12 (retroactive to July 9) with right elbow inflammation, will likely need to throw three bullpens before the Sox decide how to move forward with a rehab assignment.
Cold vs. heat
Rafael Devers was 2 for 19 in 23 plate appearances over his last five games going into Tuesday night, and Cora’s explanation for the slump was simple.
“Just getting beat with fastballs,” he said.
Devers struck out seven times over that span, and six came on fastballs. Of the 49 fastballs he saw over that stretch, he swing and missed 19 times.
Devers entered Tuesday hitting .292 with 12 homers on fastballs this season.
“He’ll make adjustments,” Cora said. “He’ll keep working, but I think it’s just pitchers executing their pitches where they feel they can get him out and he’s been — not chasing, I don’t think he’s chasing — just swinging and missing.”
Devers broke out in Tuesday night’s 9-4 win over the Rangers, going 2 for 4 with an RBI double.
Special appearance
The Sox are expecting Tyler O’Neill to make an appearance in the clubhouse Wednesday for the first time since he was placed on the injured list with a calf infection on Aug. 7.
O’Neill initially fell ill on Aug. 3 and missed the matchup against the Royals in Kansas City. That bug led to a four-game absence, and his situation became more puzzling when his leg began to swell.
He hasn’t taken part in baseball activities since. Cora said O’Neill has been taking antibiotics and had texted him that he’s feeling better. Injuries have plagued O’Neil throughout his career and this is his third stint on the injured list this season.
“It’s been taking a while and I can tell you he’s frustrated,” Cora said. “This came out of nowhere and it’s been taking a long time. We’ve got to get him going baseball-wise, but nothing yet.”
Much-needed relief
Since returning from the injured list on Aug. 7, righthanded reliever Chris Martin has given the bullpen a much-needed lift.
In three appearances, he’s thrown three scoreless innings, striking out six while allowing just two hits.
“It feels like he’s close to 100 percent,” Cora said. “We’re going to be able to use him the right way and I think he’s going to be able to contribute.”
Martin missed 27 games because of inflammation in his right elbow. In 26 appearances before going down, he was 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 26⅓ innings with 10 holds an three blown saves.
“I think early on, the numbers are the numbers,” Cora said. “He got hit, but it was bad luck running into hard contact. Command-wise, he wasn’t as sharp as last year. Last year was the best year in his career. Are we expecting that? Of course not. But we expect a good version of him and I think so far, so good.”
Martin has leaned on his four-seam fastball, which has averaged 93.8 miles per hour and has gotten him five strikeouts since returning.
“He looks good,” Cora said. “The stuff is good, command has been great.”
Martin has yet to throw on consecutive days and Cora said it’s something the team plans to handle with caution.
“Obviously, we have to be careful going back to back and all that,” Cora said. “But we talked about it. He’s been there, done that. And an outing in Worcester at 100 percent is basically an outing here because he’s that good. We need him. We have to be careful, especially early. But at one point we’ll do the back to back and he’ll be a full go.”
Glowing report
Worcester manager Chad Tracy spoke highly of the work Triston Casas has put in during his rehab assignment.
“I think he looks great,” Tracy said. “It took him the first couple games where, I think like anybody that’s been out for 3½ months, timing wasn’t quite there. And I think each game that’s gone by, his timing is getting there.”
Casas has been out since April because of a rib strain. He started his rehab assignment July 30 and has hit .250 (8 for 32) with five doubles, five walks, and four RBIs in nine games.
“I think he looks great on the defensive side. He’s made three or four sliding forehand plays right on the line, taking doubles away. He’s made a couple nice backhands,” said Tracy. “He’s moving around well and the bat is moving through the zone quick. He’s driving the ball. Now, Triston is very cerebral, so how he feels and how it looks to me may be different, but he certainly, based on the amount of time off, what I’m watching, he looks pretty darn good.”
Worthy cause
The 22nd Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon started Tuesday and will continue through Wednesday. The event has raised more than $70 million for cancer treatment and research since 2002. The Sox wore special warm-up apparel and Rangers players also wore Jimmy Fund T-shirts during pregame. Brock Holt, who was deeply involved with the Jimmy Fund during his time with the Sox, threw out the first pitch … Liam Hendriks will throw Wednesday and the team will then meet to map out the next steps as the righthander works his way back from UCL surgery. “There’s a good chance there’s going to be a rehab outing after that, “Cora said.
Julian Benbow can be reached at julian.benbow@globe.com.