Aug. 25: RHP Justin Slaten closes in on return

It appears one Minor League rehab appearance will wind up being enough for Slaten. 

The righty was set to throw a short mound session at Fenway Park prior to Sunday’s game against Arizona 

and could be poised to return during the five-game series against the Blue Jays that starts Monday. 

In an appearance for Double-A Portland on Friday night, Slaten threw 17 pitches, eight of them for strikes. He got one out while giving up a hit, a run and a walk and striking out one. 

Slaten was one of Boston’s best setup relievers before the injury, notching a 3.38 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 42 2/3 innings.

“Most likely, he’ll be with us in the upcoming days,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

Aug. 25: RHP Liam Hendriks strikes out two in third rehab outing

Hendriks was strong in the third outing of his Minor League rehab assignment on Sunday. Pitching for Double-A Portland, Hendriks gave up one unearned run while throwing 19 pitches. He allowed one hit and no walks while recording both of his outs on strikeouts. Hendriks, who underwent Tommy John surgery while with the White Sox last season, hopes to return in early September.

10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Justin Slaten (right elbow inflammation)

Expected return: Within the next day or so

Slaten made a Minor League rehab appearance for Double-A Portland on Aug. 23, throwing 17 pitches, eight of them for strikes. He got one out while giving up a hit, a run and a walk and striking out one. Slaten was one of Boston’s best setup relievers before the injury, notching a 3.38 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 42 2/3 innings. Slaten’s next appearance will likely be for the Red Sox. He threw a short session off the mound prior to the Aug. 25 game against the Diamondbacks.

“He’ll likely be with us in the upcoming days,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. (Last updated: Aug. 25)

LHP Cam Booser (left elbow inflammation)

Expected return: September

Booser told the club he was experiencing discomfort in his elbow after a shaky outing against the Rangers on Aug. 13, in which he didn’t retire a batter. The Red Sox aren’t sure when Booser will return, but manager Alex Cora expressed hope that it is sooner rather than later. (Last updated: Aug. 14)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Liam Hendriks (right UCL surgery)

Expected return: September

Hendriks made the third appearance of his Minor League rehab assignment on Aug. 25, recording two outs on 19 pitches for Double-A Portland. Hendriks allowed one hit and and one unearned run, walking none and striking out two. Hendriks hopes to be back in early September. (Last updated: Aug. 25)

SS Trevor Story (dislocated left shoulder)

Expected return: September

Story will start a Minor League rehab assignment in less than two weeks, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on Aug. 23. Story’s hope is to make it back to the Red Sox for their final push for a postseason berth. (Last updated: Aug. 23)

LHP James Paxton (partially torn right calf)

Expected return: Likely not until ’25

Paxton was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Aug. 23, ending any chance he will return during the regular season. Paxton suffered a partially torn right calf just five pitches into his start on Aug. 11. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said there’s a chance Paxton will be ready by the American League Championship Series if the Red Sox can make it that far. (Last updated: Aug. 23)

RHP Bryan Mata (right elbow inflammation)

Expected return: TBD

After the Red Sox acquired lefty James Paxton on July 26, they transferred Mata to the 60-day injured list. Mata continues to be unable to get healthy for an extended period, although he has played catch in recent days. (Last updated: Aug. 9)

RHP Garrett Whitlock (damaged UCL in right elbow)

Expected return: 2025

Whitlock will not pitch again until some point in 2025 after he had his UCL repaired by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas in Birmingham, Ala., on May 30. On the bright side, the righty avoided Tommy John surgery and instead underwent an internal brace repair, a procedure that has become more frequent for pitchers with UCL injuries.

Whitlock had a 1-0 record and 1.96 ERA in four starts for the Red Sox this season. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 2. (Last updated: June 2)

LHP Chris Murphy (left UCL)

Expected Return: 2025

Murphy, who came up as a starter before being converted into a multi-inning reliever last season, underwent successful reconstruction of the left ulnar collateral ligament (elbow). Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery at Texas Metroplex Institute for Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery in Arlington. (Last updated: April 10)

RHP Lucas Giolito (right UCL surgery)

Expected Return: 2025

Giolito was moved to the 60-day injured list on March 24. He underwent surgery to repair his right elbow ulnar collateral ligament on March 12 after two Grapefruit League starts (4 1/3 innings). (Last updated: March 24)

MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST

SS Marcelo Mayer (hip/glute soreness; No. 1 on Red Sox’s Top Prospects list, No. 5 overall)

Expected return: TBD

Mayer was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on Aug. 11, but his ailment has prevented him from taking the field for the WooSox. The 21-year-old, who was placed on the IL on Aug. 20, slashed .307/.370/.480 with Double-A Portland this season, slugging eight homers and stealing 13 bases through 77 games. Last year, the fourth overall pick of the 2021 Draft struggled through a left shoulder impingement while batting .236/.306/.433 — but .337/.414/.582 before the injury — and was eventually shut down in August. (Last updated: Aug. 20)

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Source: USA Today