Red Sox manager Alex Cora indicated Friday that he was not optimistic Fitts (arm) would return before the end of the season, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Fitts has been sidelined since late August with inflammation in his brachial plexus, which is a bundle of nerves that begin in the spinal cord and extends through the shoulder and arm. He has yet to resume throwing, and there's no indication he'll be cleared to do so anytime soon. If Fitts' season is indeed over, he'll finish with a 5.00 ERA and 40:16 K:BB over 45 innings covering 10 starts and one relief appearance.
Fitts (arm) was diagnosed Tuesday with inflammation in his brachial plexus following an MRI, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
According to Healey, the brachial plexus, is a bundle of nerves that begin in the spinal cord and extend through his shoulder and arm, and the finding from Fitts' MRI weren't anything unexpected. The Red Sox aren't yet putting a timeline on Fitts' return, as the team will wait and see how he responds to rest and treatment before clearing him to start throwing again.
Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Goes on IL with arm neuritis
Rotowire
The Red Sox placed Fitts on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right arm neuritis, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Fitts had to be lifted from Monday's outing in Baltimore due to the injury. It's unclear how much time the right-hander will miss, but the Red Sox will need someone to slot into Fitts' spot this weekend against the Pirates as a starter or bulk reliever.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Stint on IL expected
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The Red Sox will place Fitts (biceps) on the 15-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game in Baltimore, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
While Fitts seemed to avoid a serious injury when he exited Monday's appearance with right biceps tightness, the issue is bad enough to require him to miss at least a couple weeks of action. It's unclear who will slot into the rotation in Fitts' place, but Kyle Harrison, Payton Tolle and Walker Buehler are among the options.
Fitts left Monday's game against the Orioles due to right biceps tightness, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
This is positive news for the right hander, as he appears to have avoided a long-term injury. It remains to be seen whether he'll require a trip to the injured list. Healey reported after the game that Fitts was encouraged by the fact the injury wasn't feeling serious, and the team plans to re-evaluate the right-hander Tuesday morning.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Departs with arm injury
Rotowire
Fitts left Monday's game against the Orioles with an apparent arm injury, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. He allowed three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings before exiting.
Fitts came back out for the sixth inning but was removed after tossing one pitch. He'll presumably be taken to the clubhouse to be evaluated further. Steven Matz was called upon to replace Fitts.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Set for bulk role
Rotowire
Fitts is expected to operate as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Brennan Bernardino in Monday's game against Baltimore, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Fitts was called up from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday and was made available out of the bullpen, but the Red Sox stayed away from using him during their four-game weekend series versus the Yankees. The right-hander thus isn't expected to face any restrictions with his workload once he likely enters the game after Bernardino covers the first inning or two. Fitts has previously served as a starter in all 10 of his appearances with Boston this season, compiling a 4.83 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 34 strikeouts over 41 innings.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Could start Monday
Rotowire
Fitts could be the favorite to start Monday's game against the Orioles at Camden Yards, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Fitts initially looked set to work out of the bullpen when he was called up from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, but the team now has a hole in its rotation after manager Alex Cora said Friday that the struggling Walker Buehler has been moved to a relief role. The Red Sox have made Fitts available out of the bullpen during their four-game series with the Yankees, but he hasn't been used in any of the first three contests. If the team stays away from Fitts in Sunday's series finale, the right-hander would likely become the logical choice to take the hill Monday. Triple-A Worcester rotation member Kyle Harrison is another candidate to get called up to potentially start Monday's contest.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Red Sox recalled Fitts from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.
Fitts has been used exclusively as a starter in the majors and minors this season, but the Red Sox will shift him to relief to see if his stuff might play up in shorter stints. The righty holds a 4.83 ERA and 34:13 K:BB over 41 innings during his time with Boston this season.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Coming up to pitch in relief
Rotowire
The Red Sox will recall Fitts from Triple-A Worcester prior to Thursday's game against the Yankees, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
He'll be a replacement on the active roster for Isaiah Campbell, who was optioned to Worcester on Wednesday. All 17 of Fitts' appearances between the majors and minors this season have been as a starting pitcher, but the Red Sox plan to deploy him as a reliever during his upcoming stint with the big club. The big righty posted a 3.00 ERA and 16:7 K:BB over 15 frames covering his last three starts with Worcester.
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