Garrett Whitlock Injury Update: Will Red Sox Pitcher Require a Stint On the Injured List? originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Through all the injuries the Red Sox have managed to work past this year, Garrett Whitlock has been one of the most consistent members of the team. However, his workload might be coming back to bite him.
Whitlock, who has worked as a starter and a reliever throughout his career, has pitched in 44 innings this season. He only appeared on the injured list for a few days between May and June. Now, an elbow issue threatens the rest of his summer.
Interim manager Chad Tracy told The Boston Globe he believes the issue has been “building” over the last few weeks. This came after playing in 13 games in July, a month where the Red Sox won 15 straight games.
With a history of elbow issues, including Tommy John surgery in 2019, the Red Sox may need to decide on what to do with Whitlock soon.
Garrett Whitlock injury update
During that aforementioned stretch in July, Whitlock went 12.1 innings, striking out 10 while owning a 0.73 ERA. The workhorses efforts helped propel the Red Sox to the top Wild Card spot.
Whitlock has pitched in four innings in August. In his last outing against the Athletics on August 9, he gave up a run for his first blown save since July 24. Tracy has stated that Whitlock has gotten “beat up” from pitching frequently. Whitlock later admitted that.
“Been throwing a lot and warmed up a lot, which has been a big thing. Tightened up on me after warming up [Tuesday] night,” Whitlock said. “Not as much on-and-off. It’s been building. I would say that’s probably the better word. So it’s just one of those things… It was kind of gradually getting that way, and then it’s getting to a pretty big point.”
At the moment, Whitlock has not gotten an MRI. However, Tracy told The Boston Globe he would check on Whitlock on Thursday, August 13, before the Red Sox end a series against the Blue Jays.
“We got to see,” Tracy said regarding a potential IL stint. “We got to see how he responds, how he feels [Thursday], and we’ll go from there.”
NESN will share updates when provided
Garrett Whitlock stats 2026
(Current as of Aug. 13)
| Category | Stat |
| Games | 45 |
| Innings pitched | 44.0 |
| W-L | 6-1 |
| ERA | 2.05 |
| Saves | 2 |
| Holds | 21 |
| Strikeouts | 49 |
| Walks | 7 |