The Red Sox have put a starting pitcher on the injured list for the first time this year, but it shouldn’t be for a long period of time. Shortly before the team’s game against the Athletics at Fenway on Wednesday, they announced they had placed Nick Pivetta on the COVID injured list. It comes as a result of side effects from getting his vaccine, so it shouldn’t be a long absence. While he’s off the roster, Eduard Bazardo has come up to join the bullpen.
The #RedSox today placed RHP Nick Pivetta on the COVID-19 Related Injured List (side effects from vaccination).
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 12, 2021
To fill Pivetta’s spot on the active roster, the club recalled RHP Eduard Bazardo from Triple-A Worcester.
Assuming these are just normal side effects from the vaccination, this shouldn't be more than a one- or two-day absence for the Red Sox righty. He’s not scheduled to start again until Friday, so one would think he’ll be ready to go by then.
In the meantime, the extra help in the bullpen is welcomed for this team. The middle relief has been a problem area for the last couple of weeks, so adding Bazardo to the mix at least gives Alex Cora another option from which to choose. This will be Bazardo’s second stint in the majors after coming up as the 27th man in a doubleheader last month. He tossed a scoreless inning with two walks and a strikeout that day.