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Reliever Matt Albers is making his return to the Boston Red Sox' bullpen after a stay on the disabled list, replacing Alfredo Aceves in the bullpen according to Scott Lauber.
Albers, sidelined by a sore lat on April 8, hasn't pitched for the Sox since April 5 against the Indians, and has only thrown two innings for the team so far this year. In two rehab appearances for Pawtucket, Albers threw three scoreless innings allowing just a single hit while striking out two.
Since coming up to replace Albers, Alfredo Aceves has proved quite capable for the Sox, throwing eight innings of two-run ball, striking out five and walking just two.
In fact, Aceves has been so good that it's entirely beyond me as to why he's headed back to Triple-A. Remaining with the Red Sox is Hideki Okajima, who after losing his job in the bullpen between 2010 and spring training, returned to the team Tuesday against the Athletics and immediately showed why he was gone in the first place by giving up three runs while recording just two outs. His ERA sits at 40.50, Aceves' at 2.25.
At some point the Red Sox are just teaching their players that hard work and good results don't pay off.