After just three innings and 57 pitches in his Sunday start, Red Sox lefty Drew Pomeranz called for team trainers and then departed his start. There's no word just yet as to what ailed Pomeranz, but he dealt with elbow issues last season then a triceps injury during spring training. We'll update here once the Red Sox announce the issue.
Pomeranz is 3-2 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.44 WHIP on the season. That's not good at all, of course, but the Red Sox rotation needs bodies at this point. David Price is still working back from his spring training elbow injury and hasn't thrown a big-league pitch this season. Steven Wright is out for the season after having knee surgery, too. Keep in mind Roenis Elias would be another possible option, but he's injured as well.
Kyle Kendrick took a few turns, but he's been bad and is back in the minors. Signs indicate Hector Velazquez will join the rotation this week, but the Red Sox will need another starter if Pomeranz needs to miss time. The next option is probably Brian Johnson.
Velazquez, 28, is 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 29 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket this season. The right-hander spent his previous seven years professionally in the Mexican League.
Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 26-year-old lefty, has made two career big-league starts, pitching to a 7.71 ERA. Entering Sunday, he was 2-0 with a 2.64 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings in Triple-A this season.
The Red Sox entered Sunday 19-17, 3 1/2 games behind the Orioles and Yankees in the AL East.