Red Sox Get Crucial Ranger Suarez News

The 30-year-old left-hander had seemingly progressed nicely earlier in the week and was originally expected to come off the IL for Tuesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. However, this start was pushed back when weather threatened and eventually postponed the matchup to part of a split doubleheader on Wednesday.

While all reports at that stage indicated that Suarez's groin issue had healed, the Red Sox opted to give him some additional days after he went through a strenuous build up to be cleared and then was battling an illness. Boston instead went with rookie left-hander Eduardo Rivera with the 15-game win streak on the line, who couldn't make it out of the first inning allowing three hits and four earned runs.

Suarez's strained left adductor occurred on July 5 when he left his start against the Los Angeles Angels in the third inning. While seemingly minor, it was the second time this year that the veteran had to miss time with a lower body injury, which may have contributed to his patient return this time around.

His first injury came in May, when a tweak of the hamstring forced him out after four scoreless innings and just 70 pitches against the Houston Astros. This ailment didn't require a stint on the IL, as the Red Sox were able to shuffle the rotation around to give him some additional days off.

Suarez's return comes at a crucial junction, as the thin rotation has had to make do without him and Connelly Early for the last few weeks on top of the losses to Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello. While strong performances from rookies Jake Bennett and Payton Tolle have anchored the unit during the incredible 13-1 stretch since Suarez went down, getting him back fully healthy will be a massive boost.

Not only will they get the steady left-hander, who holds a 3.15 ERA in 17 starts, back in the mix, but they will be able to start Tolle on Monday in Sacramento on six days rest rather than using him on Sunday. Managing the workload of Tolle and Bennett will be an important focus for the rest of the season, as the pair has already surpassed their career-highs in innings pitched just past the halfway point in the season.

Suarez will get the ball opposite Toronto's right-hander Kevin Gausman (4-9, 4.51 ERA) for a 1:35 pm EST start at Fenway Park to close out the club's already successful 10-game divisional homestand.