The Boston Red Sox are starting to trend in an unfortunate direction. They are on a five-game losing streak (after a red-hot July, where they went 21-4), their bullpen is falling apart, their offense is struggling greatly, everybody is tired... and there is still about a month-and-a-half of regular-season play left.
And now, it looks like things are getting worse for the Red Sox before they get better.
On Thursday, the team announced that reliever Garrett Whitlock has been placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 10) due to right elbow inflammation, and they have recalled Greg Weissert from Triple-A Worcester.
The #RedSox today placed RHP Garrett Whitlock on the 15-Day Injured List (retroactive to August 10) with right elbow inflammation. To fill his spot, Boston recalled RHP Greg Weissert from Triple-A Worcester.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 13, 2026
Being without Whitlock, who has been one of Boston's most reliable relievers for the past few years, is tough on its own. But when you factor in the circumstances and the specific timing, it becomes an even bigger obstacle the Red Sox will need to overcome as they look to get things back on track.
Garrett Whitlock has been fantastic for the Red Sox this season
Boston's pitching staff as a whole has been one of the best in the majors all season long, and a big reason for that is because of some of its bullpen arms, which especially includes Whitlock.
In 45 appearances this season, the Georgia native is 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA and two saves in 44 innings pitched. Of all of Boston's qualified pitchers, Whitlock has the second-lowest ERA (Aroldis Chapman is only barely ahead, though, with a 2.04 ERA).
Whitlock has turned into an elite setup man, and his 1-2 punch with Chapman has made it seem like a practical guarantee that the Red Sox are going to win as long as their starter goes at least six innings.
But with the 30-year-old now on the shelf for at least a little while, the Red Sox will need to find his temporary replacement. Unfortunately for them, they don't have a ton of options.
Weissert (3.97 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched) isn't the answer, Tyron Guerrero has mostly been solid, but he's clearly losing some steam (he gave up three hits, five runs - four earned - and two walks without recording a single out in the seventh inning), and Justin Slaten (4.60 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched) has been wildly inconsistent all season.
The Red Sox will likely rely on Erik Miller, whom they acquired from the San Francisco Giants ahead of the trade deadline. But while he's been solid so far in Boston (no earned runs allowed, 8 SO/BB ratio in 4.1 innings pitched), it's clear that the team is going to lose a lot of depth in its bullpen at a time when it really can't afford that.
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