Connor Seabold made his first start of the season for the Red Sox on Monday night, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 7-2 loss in Toronto. Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP
TORONTO — Connor Seabold’s first major league stint of 2022 lasted just one day.
The Red Sox optioned Seabold back to Triple-A Worcester and activated reliever Silvino Bracho from the taxi squad before Tuesday’s game, according to a team announcement. Bracho will be active Tuesday night against Toronto.
The move allows the Red Sox to have an additional arm in their bullpen for the final two games of their series at Rogers Centre. Seabold, who started Monday and pitched 4 2/3 innings, would not have been available out of the bullpen. Activating Bracho will give Boston nine relievers on its 26-man roster. Boston used four different relievers in its 7-2 loss in Monday’s series opener.
The Red Sox entered their series against the Blue Jays with a short bullpen because closer Tanner Houck is unvaccinated against COVID-19 and therefore ineligible to play in Toronto. Houck, along with outfielder Jarren Duran, is on the restricted list until Friday; both players are working out at Fenway Park. The Red Sox called up Seabold and infielder Yolmer Sánchez to replace Houck and Duran on the active roster Monday.
Bracho, 29, has posted a 3.16 ERA while striking out 36 batters in 18 games (31 1/3 innings) for the WooSox this season. A veteran of parts of five big league seasons with Arizona, Bracho signed a minor-league deal with Boston over the winter. He is not on the team’s 40-man roster but doesn’t have to be to replace an unvaccinated player going on the restricted list. Barring a major surprise, he’ll be back with the WooSox on Friday.
Seabold allowed seven runs on nine hits (including three home runs) in Monday’s loss. He is 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 11 starts at Triple-A this year.
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