MIAMI – Catcher Adley Rutschman was out of the Red Sox’s lineup for the second game in a row in the finale of Boston’s three-game series against the Marlins on Wednesday at loanDepot park.
According to interim manager Chad Tracy, Rutschman had some irritation in his right elbow after a swing he took in Boston’s 4-2 win against Miami on Monday.
Rutschman had a wrap on his right arm ahead of Tuesday’s game.
“He took a really aggressive swing,” Tracy said before Tuesday’s game. “He kind of hyperextended his elbow. Nothing to be alarmed about. Just felt like I don’t want to make that worse.”
Rutschman is experiencing some soreness in the elbow, so the decision was made not to irritate it further. Ahead of the finale, he told reporters that he feels “better” after first feeling something in one of his later at-bats Monday night.
“[I have been getting] a lot of treatment and whatnot,” Rutschman said. “But looking forward to getting back in quick.”
Rutschman said he “absolutely” expects to be ready to play in the Red Sox’s four-game series against the Yankees in New York that begins Friday night.
The decision to keep Rutschman out of the lineup for a second consecutive day made sense to Tracy because he is waiting until the catcher is fully recovered.
“He definitely is better today, which is good,” Tracy said Wednesday. “Just use today plus the off-day benefits and try to get completely on the other side of this thing, and hopefully be able to turn loose in New York. So [I] hope we’re trending that way. But it just didn’t make a lot of sense to me today to try to risk putting him out there and let him take one more swing and do something, so just let him be off today, and we’ll reassess them after the off-day.”
“He’s so engaged in that part of it,” Tracy said. “He’s really, really good at taking an at-bat, an intensive at-bat, whether he has success or not, finishing the at-bat and coming and putting his gear on and immediately engaging with [pitching coach Andrew Bailey]. And his entire focus shifts on a [finger snap] on that pitcher and what needs to be done defensively in that inning.”
To Tracy, Rutschman is a great teammate and is someone who separates his offense from his defense, which his manager considers the most important part.
Willson Contreras was also out of the lineup Wednesday. That was planned to give the first baseman two days off before the series against New York.
“Willson, just with the various leg things that he’s dealt with,” Tracy said. “Being able to give him a day today plus tomorrow. [He will] work with the medical staff today and try to get his legs in the best place possible prior to New York; [that] was important as well.”
Connor Wong started behind the plate Tuesday and Wednesday. Nick Sogard started at first on Wednesday.