Red Sox Bullpen Takes Another Major Hit With Justin Slaten Injury

The Boston Red Sox bullpen has suffered another significant blow with reliever Justin Slaten being placed on the injured list due to elbow soreness. This comes only three days after setup man Garrett Whitlock was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, leaving the team with a concerning lack of reliable right-handed relievers.

Slaten, who owns a 4.60 ERA and 39 strikeouts this season, has been one of Boston's most frequently used relievers, but his absence is particularly concerning given his history of injury problems. He was previously sidelined with right elbow inflammation in 2024 and missed most of 2025 due to right shoulder inflammation. In response to the loss, the Red Sox recalled left-hander Raymond Burgos from Triple-A Worcester to fill Slaten's roster spot.

Burgos, who made two appearances with Boston last season, will provide some relief, but he is not considered a direct replacement for Slaten's experience and reliability. The Red Sox now have two of their most trusted right-handed relievers out of action within a week, creating a challenging situation for interim manager Chad Tracy.

The team still has closer Aroldis Chapman to rely on, but securing leads in the late innings has become significantly more difficult with the bullpen's current state.