BOSTON -- Following an MRI on Joe Kelly's impinged shoulder, Red Sox manager John Farrell announced at his pregame news conference Wednesday that the injured right-hander incurred no further damage by trying to play through his pain.
"There's no change in structure from the MRI that was taken last September, and now we've got to let it quiet down," said Farrell, who had no update on how long Kelly will be out.
On Tuesday, Kelly intimated that he didn't feel right leading into the game and in warm-ups, but he chose not to communicate his problems to Farrell, telling reporters, "I thought I was going to be good to go and went out there and tried to step on the gas and nothing came out."
Kelly, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday, was pulled after just four at-bats and 23 pitches. It will be his second time missing extended time with a right shoulder issue in less than a calendar year, having missed the final month of the 2015 season with a strain.
With Eduardo Rodriguez still two weeks away from making a return, this leaves the Red Sox playing a bit of musical chairs with Pawtucket on both ends of the pitching staff. Sidearmer Noe Ramirez was recalled Wednesday from Pawtucket, along with right-hander William Cuevas, who was scratched from his start to come into the bullpen in the case the Sox need long relief Wednesday night for Rick Porcello. To make room, infielder Marco Hernandez was optioned down to the Triple-A club after Tuesday's loss.
Farrell confirmed that Sunday's starter will be from the PawSox, though he hasn't disclosed yet whom it will be. Roenis Elias and Brian Johnson are likely candidates, but top prospect Henry Owens has made perhaps the most convincing case of late after some struggles during spring training. In three starts so far this year, the former compensation-round pick is 1-1 with a 1.00 ERA, with 23 strikeouts and 10 walks, holding hitters to a .138 average.
"If you look at his last outing in Jupiter [Florida, in spring training] against the Marlins ... he was more assertive, he was crisp," Farrell said. "He threw the ball well, and he's continued on. Certainly he's in the conversation."
As for Kelly, Farrell said he doesn't harbor any disappointment about Kelly's lack of communication leading to another trip to the DL, saying he "can't fault him for wanting to get to the mound."
"If he doesn't take the ball, then we're chastising him for not being tough," Farrell said. "Here's a guy who might have been a little sore coming out of his last start, but he was making progress, and felt like he was in the safe zone to make his start."