Rafael Devers left Boston’s loss to the Yankees on Friday after four innings because of a sore back and will sit out the final two games of the series. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
BOSTON — Red Sox All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers will miss the next two games against the New York Yankees because of a sore back that forced him to make an early exit.
Boston Manager Alex Cora said before Saturday night’s game that “he’s out today and tomorrow. We’ll see how he feels on Monday. We’ve got to take care of him.”
On Friday, the 25-year-old Devers was selected as the American League’s starting third baseman for the second straight year.
Hours later, Devers hurt his back crashing into a side rail going for a foul ball at Fenway Park. He looked awkward taking a swing in his next at-bat before leaving the game.
“He kind of tweaked his back,” Cora said. “He’s been dealing with this actually since Toronto with the turf and all that. He took a swing and I decided to take him out. Give him a breather. He’ll be down (Saturday) and we’ll see how he feels. He’s feeling better, but we’ve got to make sure we stop this.
“We can’t play that game of, if he feels good, let’s go out there, and then we’ll miss him for a few days, but we’ll be smart about it over the weekend.”
“It’s a day-to-day situation,” added Devers. “So I’ll see how I feel tomorrow.”
Devers leads the club in batting average (.327) and home runs (19) and is second on team with 51 RBI. He entered Saturday second in the majors with 106 hits.
FOR THE RED SOX, the pitching carousel just keeps going ’round and ’round.
Right-hander Kutter Crawford will start Saturday’s game against the Yankees, Cora said. Crawford will be Boston’s fourth consecutive rookie starter. Meanwhile, reliever Michael Feliz, who pitched well in mop-up duty in Friday’s 12-5 loss, was designated for assignment after the game, according to an industry source.
Crawford will make his first major league start since June 18. He struck out eight batters in 5 1/3 scoreless innings as a bulk reliever following opener Austin Davis on Monday against Tampa Bay. He’s 2-2 with a 5.04 ERA in 25 innings.
Feliz was added to the 40-man roster and activated Thursday. He relieved Connor Seabold on Friday and held the Yankees to two runs (one earned) on a single hit in 3 1/3 innings while throwing 61 pitches. The Red Sox likely want a fresh bullpen arm or two after using relievers for a combined 15 1/3 innings (including Jackie Bradley Jr.’s inning Friday) over the last three days.
Boston will select the contract of righty Kaleb Ort and activate him before Saturday’s game to take the place of Feliz, according to multiple sources.
More moves could be on the horizon, too, if Seabold needs to go on the injured list. Righty Phillips Valdez is a candidate to be called up.
Ort, 30, made a one-game cameo in the majors last season, debuting on Sept. 13 as a COVID replacement. The righty has spent the last two seasons at Triple-A Worcester, where he has saved 34 games for the WooSox. This year, he has a 3.12 ERA, 47 strikeouts and 15 saves in 34⅔ innings over 33 games.
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