The Red Sox were without their hottest hitter for Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
J.D. Martinez was added to the COVID-19 related injured list due to cold symptoms as the team awaits a negative test before he’s eligible to return.
“We feel pretty confident that he’ll be able to be with us (Sunday), but obviously we have to wait,” manager Alex Cora said.
Major League Baseball mandates all players and on-field personnel get tested every other day during the season. Cora said Martinez was given a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test as part of the routine, as well as a rapid test after Martinez revealed his symptoms.
The Red Sox made a roster move before the game, recalling Michael Chavis from Worcester. Teams can carry up to five players on a taxi squad with them to road cities in case of a coronavirus outbreak.
MLB has been strict about protocols this year as they attempt to avoid the extended slate of missed games due to coronavirus outbreaks.
“I’ll tell you my story in spring training,” Cora said. “We got this app that they asked you how you feel, right? I had allergies in spring training, and you got to be honest, you know, as far as like, ‘OK, so I felt this.’ And as soon as I sent it, I got a text, a phone call and a lot of people panic and in less than five minutes. So I had to go to JetBlue Park, do the rapid test, stay in my office until they gave me the green light, and that was it.
“But it’s understandable, right? We know what we are fighting against. But we don’t know how it moves or when we can get it, where, but I understand the protocols. I’m OK with it. So if we don’t have J.D. for one day, so be it, you know? Somebody has to step up and do the job tonight.”
The Sox are also without outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who will miss the entire weekend due to general soreness, according to Cora. Renfroe hurt himself making a sliding catch in right field at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
Without two of their regulars, Kiké Hernandez was in center field with Alex Verdugo in right field and Marwin Gonzalez in left.
That opened the door for Christian Arroyo to make his fifth start in eight games at second base, where he’s quietly become an every-day player for this team.
He’s just 3-for-17 and ranks in the bottom of MLB in exit velocity and chase rate, but Cora said he likes what he’s seen.
“He has the two biggest at-bats of the last week,” Cora said. “Sometimes we talk about results and look at the numbers, but from my end, he’s doing a good job. We’re going to get everybody involved… But I’m very happy with the way he’s competing.”
Red Sox lineup behind RHP Garrett Richards vs. the Orioles behind LHP Bruce Zimmermann at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards:
- Hernandez CF
- Verdugo RF
- Bogaerts SS
- Vazquez DH
- Devers 3B
- Gonzalez LF
- Arroyo 2B
- Dalbec 1B
- Plawecki C
