Red Sox News & Links: Ranger Suàrez hopeful after hamstring injury

TL;DR

Ranger Suárez is optimistic about his minor hamstring injury, hoping to make his next start. The Red Sox are considering using an opener strategy due to ongoing pitching issues, while the lineup struggles with run production despite getting more hits.

Key points

Ranger Suárez has a minor hamstring injury.
Suárez hopes to make his next start.
The Red Sox are considering using an opener strategy.
The lineup struggles with converting hits into runs.
The team has the most defensive runs saved in the majors.

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TORONTO, ON - APRIL 27: Boston Red Sox Starting Pitcher Ranger Suárez (55) reacts during the MLB regular season game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays on April 27, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images No need to panic over Ranger Suarez’s hamstring injury *just* yet. The injury is said to be minor and Suarez himself sounds optimistic: “[H]opefully I don’t miss anything and I can [make] my next start.” But even if this particularly injury doesn’t sideline Suarez for so long, there’s no question that the various hits to the pitching staff are threatening to tank the entire season before we even get to June. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe) Could using an opener be one solution to the pitching woes? The Red Sox are considering it for tomorrow night’s game against the Tigers, with Brayan Bello coming out of the bullpen to throw some bulk innings, a strategy that worked with Nick Pivetta a few years back. “The big thing is, if we do that, is it [to] the benefit of the Red Sox, and can we help get Bello on track?” said Chad Tracy. “He’s aware. We’ve talked to him a little bit about the possibility. Also told him to be prepared to start if that comes up.” But for as worrisome as the current state of the pitching staff is, it’s the lineup that’s the ugliest part of the team. And while the Sox are getting morehits lately, they aren’t converting them into runs. recently pointed to the number of young players in the lineup as a contributing factor to the team’s prolonged offensive slumps, but one of those young guys wasn’t having it. “To me, that’s just kind of an excuse: blame the young guys,” said . “But at the end of the day, we’re all playing baseball, we’re all pros. We all know what we need to do. I don’t think we’re doing a good job with runners in scoring position. When you don’t do that, you don’t score runs.” That’s not the only disagreement that the team currently needs to work out in the clubhouse. Over the weekend, was visibly upset with , who was out of position while attempting to convert a Rafaela throw into an out at second base. “We’ll keep it between us and that’s what I think good teams do,” Story said about the incident. “We’ll handle it.” And to think, all of this is going on in a clubhouse that is supposedly “looser” in the wake of the Alex Cora firing. “When Alex wasn’t in the dugout, the team was like [exhale noise], like loose,” said Willson Contreras. “But it doesn’t matter. We have to play better. We have to find consistency. We have to get better. We have to be better.” But at least the defense is doing it’s part. “The Sox have 25 defensive runs saved, the most in the majors and five more than the second-place . The outs above average metric has the Sox second with 11, two behind the .”

Q&A

What is the status of Ranger Suárez's hamstring injury?

Ranger Suárez's hamstring injury is considered minor, and he is hopeful that he won't miss any starts.

How are the Red Sox addressing their pitching problems?

The Red Sox are contemplating using an opener strategy for their next game to help manage their pitching woes.

Why is the Red Sox lineup struggling to convert hits into runs?

The lineup is facing challenges with run production, attributed partly to the presence of many young players and difficulties with runners in scoring position.

What recent incident occurred between Ceddanne Rafaela and Trevor Story?

Ceddanne Rafaela was upset with Trevor Story for being out of position during a play, but Story indicated they would handle the matter privately.