Red Sox Calling Up Scuffling Southpaw To Supplant Star Hurler Placed On COVID List

The Boston Red Sox will be in a precarious position for at least a week as one of their top hurlers will be unavailable.

Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list on Wednesday -- meaning he will be out for at least a week. The right-hander exited Tuesday's matchup against the New York Yankees with dizziness prior to the diagnosis.

With the unexpected absence of Jansen, the Red Sox had to scramble a little bit and might have been aided by the game being postponed due to pouring rain. They finally made their selection late last night.

Boston has re-called left-hander Brandon Walter to the active roster in place of Jansen according to the Major League Baseball transaction log.

Walter has a lackluster 7.20 ERA with a 14-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .341 batting average against and 1.85 WHIP in 20 innings pitched this season. The 27-year-old rookie had a solid season brewing before his latest stint with Boston. 

Walter entered Sept. 1 with a 3.07 ERA across 14 2/3 innings. He proceeded to allow 11 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings across two outings.

The rookie will likely serve in a long-relief role that we've been accustomed to seeing on a seemingly nightly basis.