Red Sox place Steven Wright on the injured list

The Red Sox have talked up Steven Wright as a potential major help for the bullpen, identifying him as one of the internal candidates who could shore up the team’s issues later in games. The knuckleballer missed most of this season after being suspended for 80 games after a failed PED test, and he’s also ineligible to play in the postseason. In between, though, Boston hoped he could play a big role. It appears those hopes will be put on hold for a little while, as Wright has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a toe contusion. Andrew Cashner officially joins the roster to fill Wright’s space.

Wright was hurt in Saturday’s game when, after allowing two home runs, he had a comebacker bounce off his foot. The ball apparently did some damage to the knuckleballer’s lower body that will cause him to miss some time. Since returning from his suspension, Wright had made six appearances and allowed six runs in 6 ¹⁄₃ innings (8.53 ERA) with five strikeouts and four walks. It’s a tiny sample, but his production was not there.

With Cashner being activated, the Red Sox will be down a man in the bullpen. That said, they will still have eight men in relief with a 13-man pitching staff. Cashner, who is expected to make his debut with the team on Tuesday, had to be activated at some point.

My biggest issue with all of this, however, is the team officially calling it a “great” toe contusion. Is this a thing? Do people not call it the big toe? Am I losing my mind?