Garrett Crochet Injury News Emerges After Recent Setback

The Boston Red Sox became the first MLB team with 20 home losses this season, dropping Tuesday's series opener against their AL East foe Baltimore Orioles.

The Sox sit in last place in the division, trailing the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays by three games and 11.5 games back from the first place Tampa Bay Rays. Despite the bleak start, they remain just 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in a wide-open American League, making it impossible to not wonder what this team could still accomplish when fully healthy.

This reality has made every update on Garrett Crochet feel especially important. The team's ace has been out since April 25th, when he landed on the IL with left shoulder inflammation following a fantastic outing in Baltimore where he twirled six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.

Crochet had struggled a bit to that point in the season, and it felt like that start was a sign of the tide turning in the favor of the preseason Cy Young hopeful. But he and the club decided it was better to get out in front of the nagging issue rather than let it become something more significant later in the season when the games may count more.

Boston's rotation has held tough in his stead due in large part to the contributions from young left-handers Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. But Crochet's presence is clearly missing from a team that, now in June, has to begin to turn things around.

Things were looking up for the 26-year-old, who was slated to throw a live BP on Tuesday as he ramped up in the rehab process. But a concerning update came on Sunday when it was announced that Crochet was dealing with lat tightness. The setback paused his progression, and instead of facing batters he was scheduled for an MRI.

After Tuesday's loss, the Red Sox revealed the results of their left-hander's testing, with manager Chad Tracy calling it a low-grade lat strain. He added that Crochet's throwing progression will resume once he is asymptomatic.