The Boston Red Sox will likely be without one of their hottest hitters and a top bullpen arm until September.
Designated hitter Masataka Yoshida is going on the injured list with a strained left hamstring and reliever Justin Slaten will also be sidelined with right elbow soreness, the team announced on Sunday.
Yoshida, 33, sustained his injury during Saturday’s 4-0 win over the PIttsburgh Pirates. While rounding first base on a third-inning double, he stumbled on his way to second and quickly grabbed the back of his left leg. After consulting with a trainer, Yoshida left the game and was replaced by Anthony Seigler.
Masataka Yoshida has left the game with a leg injury and it doesn't look good.
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) August 15, 2026
He's been swinging a strong bat the last couple of months. Not good. pic.twitter.com/UkYdC3PexP
Since the MLB All-Star break, Yoshida had a slash line of .294/.354/.435 with 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 10 RBI in 96 plate appearances. For the season, he’s batting .274/.347/.399 with 16 doubles, 5 homers and 28 RBI.
Following Saturday’s game, Yoshida told reporters through an interpreter that the last time he suffered a hamstring injury, he was out for a month while playing in Japan. However, he pointed out that this strain is in a different spot.
Yoshida is the latest Red Sox batter to go on the IL, joining Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Curtis Mead.
However, Story (sports hernia) begins a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday and Anthony (torn tendon, right ring finger) is expected to begin a turn with Double-A Portland on Tuesday. Kiner-Falefa is slated to join Story in Worcester on Wednesday.
Mead could return sometime in September after suffering a fractured left wrist on July 27.
Slaten, 28, had been one of Boston’s most effective relievers. From July 7 to Aug. 2, he had made 10 straight appearances without allowing a run and gave up only 3 hits in 8 2/3 innings.
However, the right-hander then allowed 1 earned run in two consecutive outings, along with 4 hits in 1 2/3 innings. Slaten again pitched a scoreless inning in his last appearance on Aug. 12 versus the Toronto Blue Jays with 1 walk and 1 strikeout. But he hasn’t pitched since then.
Earlier in the season, Slaten missed 28 games from April to May with a right oblique strain.
Slaten’s move comes three days after Garrett Whitlock was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation, sidelining two of the Red Sox’s best relievers as the team battles the New York Yankees for the American League’s top wild-card playoff spot and attempts to stay ahead of at least six teams in those standings.
Overall, Slaten has 39 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings with a 4.60 ERA in 36 appearances. Whitlock registered a 2.05 ERA in 45 games with 49 strikeouts in 45 innings.
To fill the two roster openings, the Red Sox recalled catcher/DH Mickey Gasper and lefty reliever Raymond Burgos from Worcester. Gasper had a .337/.450/.566 slash line in the minors with 18 doubles, 9 homers and 42 RBI. Burgos had a 5.54 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 65 innings.