The Boston Red Sox made a slew of roster moves on Friday afternoon, putting outfielder Shane Victorino (left hamstring strain) and third baseman Will Middlebrooks (low back strain) on the disabled list, and activating catcher David Ross (while demoting Ryan Lavarnway), pitcher Alfredo Aceves and infielder Jose Iglesias.
Victorino missed the past three games with the hamstring strain. Manager John Farrell had been hoping to keep him off the DL but decided put him on the shelf. Victorino’s DL stint is retroactive to May 21.
In the middle of a season-long slump, Middlebrooks (0 for his last 11 and hitting .201) left Thursday’s game with spasms in his lower back. He had previously been playing through bruised ribs as well, but that did not contribute to the spasms, Farrell said.
“In his last at-bat last night in Chicago, I think he slipped coming out of the box a little bit," Farrell said Thursday. “He didn’t mention any complaint prior to the game tonight, but as things unfolded, the stiffness was there. He’s day-to-day right now."
The shortstop Iglesias was given a start at third base earlier in the week at Triple-A Pawtucket and will start there Friday night for the Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians. He will hit ninth.
Activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list, Ross had missed the past 11 games after being struck in the catcher’s mask by two straight foul balls in the ninth inning of a game May 11 against the Blue Jays.
Aceves was demoted April 24 after a meeting with Farrell, pitching coach Juan Nieves and general manager Ben Cherington in Farrell's office after Boston's 6-5 win over Oakland at Fenway Park. Prior to his demotion, Aceves had made three starts in place of John Lackey, who was on the DL. Aceves surrendered a total of 12 earned runs over 13 1/3 innings before being sent down.