HOUSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox have taken designated hitter Eduardo Nunez off their playoff roster because of a knee injury and replaced him with outfielder Chris Young.
Nunez hurt himself running to first base and had to be carried from the field in the first inning of an 8-2 loss to Houston on Thursday in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.
Nunez missed 19 of Boston’s last 20 regular-season games with what the team called a sore knee. The Red Sox thought he had recovered enough to contribute in the postseason.
Major League Baseball can allow a replacement for an injured player during the postseason. A club can make such a request, and the commissioner’s office decides whether to approve it.
By rule, Nunez is out for the rest of this series and also the next round, if the Red Sox advance. He would be allowed to play in the World Series if Boston makes it that far.
Nunez hit .321 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs in 38 games for Boston after being acquired from San Francisco in late July.
Young batted .235 with seven homers and 25 RBIs for the Red Sox.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Please read our comment policy before commenting.