In what was a bit of a scary scene at Tropicana Field on Wednesday night, Red Sox reliever Zack Kelly had to leave the game in the fifth inning after suffering what looked like a significant elbow injury. After a 2-2 pitch got away from him and hit batter Yandy Diaz, Kelly instantly knelt down on the mound and started feeling around his right arm. He then appeared to be in tears when walking off the mound with manager Alex Cora and members of the Red Sox training staff.

On Thursday morning, the team announced Kelly has been placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. That is an initial diagnosis, with Kelly expected to undergo further testing when the team returns to Boston later in the day on Thursday.

• Hoping for the best for Red Sox righty Zack Kelly, who had to leave the game in the fifth inning 🙏 pic.twitter.com/uBbyQkaE56

  — Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) April 13, 2023

• Kelly, 28, made his Major League debut with the Red Sox last year throwing 13 games in relief. This season he’d appeared in six games, with a 3.68 ERA  in 7.1 innings.

  To fill Kelly’s spot in the bullpen, the Red Sox are recalling Kutter Crawford per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Crawford began the season in the starting rotation, throwing nine innings over two starts with an ERA of 8.00. He was optioned to Triple-A Worcester earlier this week when Garrett Whitlock was activated. Crawford has pitched out of the bullpen before, doing so in nine of his 21 appearances last year.

• The Red Sox will wrap up the four-game series with the Rays and seven-game road trip Thursday afternoon. Corey Kluber will get the start for Boston, looking for his first win in a Red Sox uniform. He’ll be opposed by lefty Jeffrey Springs from Tampa. The Red Sox are trying to avoid getting swept by a division opponent, while the Rays are looking to become the first 13-0 team in MLB history.

  Once the Red Sox return home, they’ll begin a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. That series will include Shohei Ohtani starting at Fenway on Marathon Monday.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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