The Red Sox are struggling across the board as they near the end of the season.
Even the pitching staff isn’t immune, as reliever Jordan Hicks has reportedly been placed on the injured list with a shoulder issue, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and the Section 10 Podcast.
Hicks’ move to the IL comes after another rough outing, where he allowed four earned runs on four hits—including a home run—while recording just one out in an 8-1 loss. This marked his third consecutive appearance allowing at least one earned run, with the four-run performance against Cleveland on Wednesday inflating his 2025 ERA from 6.38 to 8.20.
Despite his struggles, the Red Sox have continued trying to help Hicks regain form. Even after Wednesday’s poor showing, manager Alex Cora emphasized the team’s need for Hicks to become a reliable bullpen option. “We’ve got to figure [Hicks] out. We need him. That’s the bottom line,” Cora said, noting the importance of right-handed bullpen arms alongside setup man Michael Wacha.
It’s unclear whether this IL stint is primarily for a mental reset or due to a genuine arm injury, but it could sideline Hicks for the rest of the regular season. He might return before the postseason, though that would leave very little time to get him ready for postseason play.
Hicks is the latest right-handed option to be sidelined, joining Richard Fitts on the injured list and Walker Buehler, who was released last week. Acquired from the Giants in the trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco, Hicks’ extended opportunities in Boston are likely influenced by his contract, which includes two more seasons at $12.5 million each.
So far in 2025, Hicks has a 1-2 record with two saves and one hold, but he’s allowed 25 hits (including three home runs) and 17 earned runs, with opposing batters hitting .321 against him in 18.2 innings across 21 games.
With Hicks on the IL, the Red Sox have called up left-hander Chris Murphy from Triple-A Worcester ahead of this weekend’s series in Arizona. Murphy last pitched in the majors during Boston’s August series in San Diego and comes with a 2-0 record, a 3.05 ERA, and 19 strikeouts in 20.2 innings over 14 appearances this season.
