Purple Sox accidents: Jarren Duran positioned on 10-day IL; Tanner Houck to make first begin since June 16

Purple Sox

Duran is batting simply .143 with one RBI over his final 13 video games.

Purple Sox outfielder Jarren Duran goes to need to spend a while on the shelf.

On Tuesday night, Boston introduced that Duran can be positioned on the 10-day IL (retroactive to Aug. 21) attributable to a left nice toe sprain.

The Purple Sox made a number of corresponding strikes forward of Tuesday’s street matchup in opposition to the Astros.

Tanner Houck was reinstated from the 15-day IL and is predicted to pitch on Tuesday night time in opposition to Justin Verlander.

It is going to be the righty’s first look within the massive leagues since June 16, with Houck on the mend for over two months whereas recovering from a facial fracture. Houck took a line drive off the face throughout his final outing in opposition to the Yankees, necessitating surgical procedure to place a small metallic plate in his face.

The Purple Sox additionally referred to as up slugging outfielder prospect Wilyer Abreu from the Worcester Purple Sox, with the 24-year-old anticipated to earn some reps instead of Duran over the approaching weeks. 

Abreu has been on a tear down in Triple-A over the previous few weeks, slashing .424/.528/.949 with 9 dwelling runs and 29 RBIs in August.

Boston additionally optioned lefty Chris Murphy to Worcester following Monday’s 9-4 loss in Houston.

Duran exited Boston’s win over the Yankees on Sunday within the eighth inning attributable to his toe damage. Whereas Alex Cora and the Purple Sox have been initially hopeful that Duran was going to dodge a visit to the IL, that optimism waned over the previous few days.

Duran, 26, has been one of many prime surprises for the Purple Sox this season as a dynamic participant on the plate and on the basepaths. However he has cooled off as of late, batting simply .143 with two extra-base hits, one RBI, and 10 strikeouts over his 13 video games (35 at-bats).

When Duran is at his greatest, he usually makes use of his game-changing pace to place himself in scoring place, be it by way of steals (24-for-26 on stolen-base makes an attempt) or legging out doubles off of seemingly innocent base hits into shallow areas of the outfield. He ranks fourth in MLB with 34 doubles in 2023.

But when Duran’s pace is severely hampered attributable to his toe damage, the Purple Sox doubtless don’t wish to threat additional damage and sap one in all Duran’s prime strengths by forcing him to play with a nagging ailment.