Red Sox Notes: Erratic reliever Jorge Alcala DFA’d, Roman Anthony remains out of the lineup, Trevor Story named AL Player of the Week, and a look down on the farm

One day after Red Sox righty Jorge Alcala imploded on the mound on Monday night, the club has designated the volatile reliever for assignment.

Boston will recall right-handed reliever Isaiah Campbell from Triple-A Worcester to take his spot in the bullpen.

Since the Sox acquired Alcala from the Twins on June 12 in exchange for minor league infielder Andy Lugo. In 19 games, the hard-throwing reliever pitched in 19 games, posting a 3.39 ERA with 18 strikeouts to eight walks in 16 1/3 innings with Boston. Initially, with a change of scenery, Alcala was successful for Alex Cora, allowing one run in his first 14 outings for the Sox. 

Since then, he’s regressed and imploded, resulting in the team using other relievers to clean up his mess. In his last five outings, he’s allowed five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, four walks, and four homers over that stretch. Alcala had a meltdown on Monday night with the Red Sox leading 8-1, but quickly allowed the Royals to climb back into the game. He allowed back-to-back no-doubt homers to Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia and a double to Mike Yastrzemski.

Overall this season, Alcala has pitched in 41 games, recording a 6.64 ERA with two holds with 46 strikeouts to 23 walks in 40 2/3 innings.

Campbell returns back to the big league club, giving Boston a fresh arm for the next couple of games at home with the Royals. He’s pitched in the majors once this season, allowing two runs on four hits in two innings during Boston’s blowout win over the Rockies on July 9. While pitching for the WooSox, the righty has posted a 4.17 ERA in 34 games with 41 strikeouts and a 1.59 WHIP.

ANTHONY STILL SIDELINED

Roman Anthony will miss his second straight game on Tuesday night. As expected, Cora is holding out the rookie who was scratched just minutes before Monday night’s 8-5 win over the Royals.

The Sox skipper told reporters that Anthony was day-to-day with “mid-back” tightness.”

“Tight back,” Cora said. “I’ll stay away from him tomorrow... He’ll be OK to play tomorrow, but he took today, and I’ll give him tomorrow, too.”

Anthony was going through pregame drills while on the foul line before the game on Monday and felt “super sudden” discomfort in his back.

The NESN cameras caught the 21-year-old wincing and grabbing his back.

“Everything felt normal all day, and I felt something as I was stretching on the line,” he said. “Just figured we’d be cautious with it and was super uncomfortable. I relayed that quickly, and we decided we were going to shut it down.”

Cora will give Anthony Tuesday night off and will see where things stand with him on Wednesday. If he sits for the entire series, the Red Sox will have Thursday off as well before starting a three-game series in San Diego this weekend.

“I’ll get with the training staff and figure that out, but I’m already definitely trending in the right direction and feeling better than it was earlier,” Anthony said.

With Anthony sidelined, Boston called upon Wilyer Abreu to play right field and bat fourth in his place. Abreu had been given the night off with the Royals starting newly acquired starter, Bailey Falter.

“Willy found out like two minutes before the game that he was gonna play,” said Cora. “Just went out there and did a good job.”

Abreu worked a key walk in the Sox’ five-run first inning and added an RBI single later in the game. He also made a key play in right field, gunning down Nick Loftin, who was trying to score from second base on a Bobby Witt Jr. single in the eighth. If Loftin had scored, it would have made it a two-run game.

“The walk right away, put some good swings. Obviously, the defense—that was a huge play in the eighth. Overall, a great game,” said Cora.

Boston has been platooning Abreu when lefties are on the bump. He had entered the game hitting just .191 with a .593 OPS in 53 plate appearances this season.

Abreu is back in the lineup for the Sox on Tuesday night, batting third, and will play in right field.

STORY IS ON FIRE

Trevor Story’s bat was sizzling at the plate last week, hitting .500 with three homers, four doubles, eight RBI, seven runs scored, two walks, one stolen base, and a 1.793. Those impressive numbers were good enough for him to be named the American League Player of the Week.

Story experienced a slight power outage at the plate, missing 15 games from July 8 to July 29. He found his power swing last week, hitting two homers against the Twins, and belted his 18th of the year against the Astros in Saturday’s 7-3 win.

The Red Sox are 16-1 this season when Story hits a home run.

MiLB NOTES

Jhostynxon Garcia, Boston’s No. 2 prospect, according to MiLB.com, has been crushing opposing pitching. He collected 10 hits last week, including four homers and four doubles, along with 13 RBI, to be named the International Position Player of the Week.

“The Password” started the year playing for the Sea Dogs but since his promotion to the WooSox, where, in 54 games, he’s slashed .305/.375/.587, with 15 homers and 44 RBI.

Garcia is a candidate to earn a promotion to the bigs before the regular season comes to a close. The slugger is on the Red Sox 40-man roster and offers Boston a right-handed bat option down the stretch.

He was also reportedly offered in a trade at the deadline for Twins ace Joe Ryan. Minnesota sought a package of players that was headlined by Jarren Duran or Abreu. Boston turned down the Twins' request, and ultimatel,y a deal wasn’t completed because the Sox failed to offer an “enticing enough package of their top-tier prospects,” according to The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.

Boston released right-handed pitcher Wyatt Mills, according to the WooSox game notes. He’s struggled with his control this season, pitching in 32 games (seven starts) with a 4-2 record and a 3.12 ERA. He had 49 strikeouts with 30 walks and a 1.29 WHIP. The Sox initially acquired Mills in December 2022 for pitching prospect Jacob Wallace.

The WooSox have released their pitching probables for the week.

Tuesday: RHP Jose De Leon

Wednesday: RHP Cooper Criswell

Thursday: LHP Kyle Harrison

Friday: LHP Connelly Early

Saturday: RHP Richard Fitts

Sunday: TBD

It’s possible that recently promoted left-hander Payton Tolle could make his WooSox debut on Sunday. The club could also have hard-throwing David Sandlin start as well, or piggyback on Tolle, or the other way around.

Tolle is the Red Sox’ top pitching prospect and has joined the WooSox after a terrific start to his first professional season. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound southpaw posted a 1-1 record with a 1.67 ERA in six games (five starts) for Portland. He pitched in 27 innings, allowing just 13 hits and eight runs (five earned) with 37 strikeouts and seven walks.

He was the Red Sox’ second-round pick, No. 50 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Tolle began this season with High-A Greenville, going 1-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 11 games (10 starts)—49 2/3 innings pitched, 44 hits, 20 runs, 20 earned runs, 14 walks, and 79 strikeouts. 

Overall this season, he has a 2.93 ERA with 116 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings pitched.

The Red Sox are playing the Blue Jays Triple-A team at Polar Park this week, and newly acquired Shane Bieber could make another rehab outing. Buffalo has not announced a starter for Friday night’s game. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider told reporters that Bieber (elbow) will likely require another two rehab outings before he joins Toronto.

- Mikey Romero had an impressive start with the WooSox over the weekend, belting two homers en route to Worcester’s 11-1 win on Sunday afternoon at Polar Park.

- Kristian Campbell has a 13-game hitting streak—the longest on the WooSox this season.

- Nate Eaton has hits in 13 of his last 16 games with eight RBI.

- Vaughn Grissom has hits in 14 of his last 18 games with six homers, and 17 RBI. In his last 25 games he’s hitting .340 (32-for-94) with seven homers, seven doubles, 21 RBI, and 22 runs scored.

- Red Sox relievers Zack Kelly and Brennan Bernardino are officially back with the WooSox, awaiting their call back to the bigs.