Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi placed on 15-day IL with lower back injury

Boston Red Sox placed starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list due to lower back inflammation, the team announced Sunday.

Eovaldi, 32, had a 1-2 record and 4.10 ERA through his first nine starts of the season, but won each of his last three starts before landing on the IL to raise his record to 4-2 and drop his ERA to 3.16. After allowing only two earned runs in a complete game against the Baltimore Orioles, Eovaldi allowed zero runs in starts against the Oakland A's and Los Angeles Angeles.

It's the second hit for Boston's pitching staff this week after Garrett Whitlock landed on the 15-day IL on Friday. The Red Sox also have seven-time All-Star Chris Sale on the 60-day IL due to a rib stress fracture suffered in February.

Eovaldi's spot on the active roster was filled by right-hander Kutter Crawford, who was called up from Triple-A Worcester. Crawford started Sunday against the Seattle Mariners and the Red Sox plan to start Nick Pivetta against Oakland on Tuesday.

Eovaldi was an All-Star last season and finished fourth in Cy Young voting.