Red Sox's Alex Cora Shares Injury Updates On Justin Slaten, Kutter Crawford

Red Sox's Alex Cora Shares Injury Updates On Justin Slaten, Kutter Crawford originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

Alex Cora shared some potentially discouraging injury news about two Boston Red Sox pitchers.

The Red Sox manager said Friday, per MassLive's Chris Cotillo , that Kutter Crawford 's right elbow remains sore. They may run some imaging tests on the starting pitcher as a precaution.

On a brighter note, Justin Slaten will begin playing catch on Friday or Saturday. However, the relief pitcher is unlikely to return from the injured list when he's first eligible next week.

Crawford hasn't pitched for the Red Sox since Sept. 28, 2024, and his return doesn't seem imminent after the 30-year-old exited his first rehab start with Triple-A Worcester last Saturday.

Cora downplayed any concern over Crawford's setback earlier this week.

"Kutter is just a little bit sore, so we’re going to play it a little bit safe with him," Cora said on Wednesday, per MLB.com's Ian Browne . "He’s going to get treatment. Nothing to be too alarmed (about), just talking to (trainer) Brandon (Henry), just making sure we go through the right steps and hopefully he gets back (to throwing) next week."

Boston placed Slaten on the 15-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 5, with a right oblique strain. The right-hander allowed one unearned run in 3 1/3 innings to start the season, lowering his career ERA to 3.30 in 84 relief appearances for the Red Sox.

Tyler Samaniego worked three hitless and scoreless outings after taking Slaten's roster spot, but the Red Sox demoted the rookie southpaw back to Worcester on Tuesday.

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