Red Sox' latest Ranger Suarez injury update isn't as bad as it seems

The Boston Red Sox are on a heater as winners of 14 straight, and they were set to add an All-Star-level reinforcement to the mix. But, according to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, that is no longer the case.

Boston was initially expected to get Ranger Suarez (who has been out of action since Jul. 5 due to a groin injury) back on the mound for Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, but he is no longer expected to start. Instead, the Red Sox are expected to give the start to rookie Eduardo Rivera (2.89 ERA, 0.964 WHIP, in 9.1 innings across three appearances so far this season).

"Ranger Suarez will NOT start against the Orioles tonight," Healey wrote on X. "The Red Sox announced Eduardo Rivera will do so."

The Red Sox can afford to take their time with Ranger Suarez

It would be great for Boston to get the Venezuelan native back on the mound as soon as possible. In his first season with the team, he is 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.161 WHIP in 91.1 innings. He also became a two-time All-Star.

But at the same time, the Red Sox don't need him back. They haven't lost since he's been on the shelf, and the pitching staff has been more than fine without him thanks to guys like Sonny Gray (who is continuing to make the MLB look silly after his All-Star snub), Payton Tolle, and Jake Bennett.

At this point, the Red Sox need to play it as safely as possible with Suarez, and it seems like that's what they're doing. They're on a roll without him, and it doesn't make any sense to bring him back until they know he's 100%, especially with the other injuries they're dealing with (particularly in the rotation with Garrett Crochet and Connelly Early).

Ranger Suarez should give Boston a big boost once he returns

Even if the Red Sox don't necessarily need him back yet, it will still be a good day for them when he does make their return.

Suarez has arguably been the team's best pitcher all season long (which is actually saying something), and having him back for what suddenly seems like a legitimate playoff push will be huge.

Either way, there is still a ton of baseball left on the schedule, and Boston finds itself in a good spot. With a little over two months left in the season, the team is 51-48, in third place in the AL East, and they own a 1.5-game lead over the Texas Rangers for the third AL Wild Card spot.

The Red Sox are looking good. And once they get Suarez back, they should be able to turn it up another level.

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This article was originally published on chowderandchampions.com as Red Sox' latest Ranger Suarez injury update isn't as bad as it seems.