Ranger Suarez (illness) not starting against O’s

It appears the Red Sox are going to give Ranger Suarez a couple extra days to rest while battling an illness before activating him from the injured list. Sandoval has allowed six runs over 9 1/3 innings of work across a pair of starts since making his season debut earlier this month.

No surprise here. Rivera heads back to the minors after surrendering four runs and recording just two outs during the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Orioles. It’ll be Alec Gamboa sticking around as long relief depth for Boston after serving as the club’s 27th man for the twin bill.

Rivera was wild and just not good at all, but he probably would have gotten out of the first unscathed if not for Caleb Durbin making a bad call on a grounder to third with one out. Durbin could have ran to third for a forceout or thrown to first, but he instead tried for an unlikely double play and didn’t get any outs. Rivera struck out the next batter, but then just couldn’t get a third out afterwards. He might head back to Triple-A after this.

The Red Sox are going to wait until the last possible second before making a decision whether to activate Ranger Suarez (groin) for the nightcap at Fenway Park. Bennett was brilliant in his previous outing, tossing six scoreless innings to defeat the Rays last Friday. He’s a viable option in all fantasy leagues at this point.

It’s been pouring in Boston for most of the afternoon and the decision was made not to take any chances. It’ll be made up as a doubleheader on Wednesday instead. There’s a chance that Ranger Suarez (groin) will be activated to take the ball during the twin bill, but that isn’t official yet. It was going to be Eduardo Rivera starting on Tuesday night in his place. Orioles starter Kyle Bradish will be pushed back to the doubleheader.

Boston determined it wanted to give Suarez at least one more day before activating Suarez as originally planned. This could in part be weather-related, as there’s a chance for heavy precipitation in Boston before/during Tuesday’s contest. Either way, it does appear Suarez not coming off the injured list is just a precautionary measure, and he should be back shortly.

Instead, Eduardo Rivera will get the start. Interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed Monday that Suarez would be get the nod and come off the 15-day IL, but now fantasy managers will need to wait for an update to see when the 30-year-old will return to the mound. It’s worth noting that there is a chance for heavy rain Tuesday evening, and that certainly could be a factor into why the Red Sox are pushing Suarez.

Suarez draws the starting assignment at Fenway Park for his first outing since July 5 as Boston looks to extend their unbelievable winning streak to 15 consecutive games. The 30-year-old southpaw got off to a rocky start in his Red Sox debut, but finished the first half with a strong 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 97/26 K/BB ratio across 91 1/3 innings to earn an All-Star Game selection.

It sounds like there’s still a chance Suarez will be activated from the injured list to start Tuesday’s contest against the Orioles, but the sizzling-hot Red Sox are going to wait until after his latest throwing session before making that call. Th 30-year-old All-Star lefty has been on the shelf with a groin strain since early July.

Rivera retired the first two batters he faced to start the top of the first inning, but proceeded to allow the next three batters he faced to reach base. Jonny DeLuca made the most of the bases-loaded opportunity when he singled to drive home Ryan Vilade and Junior Caminero to put the Rays up 2-0. Rivera would make it through the second inning unscathed, but was pulled in the third after allowing a solo homer to Junior Caminero to tie the game at 3-3. Rivera would be pulled immediately after allowing the homer to Caminero, marking his shortest outing of the season. He hasn’t gone more than 3 2/3 innings in any of his three starts. If he gets another outing in the rotation, it will most likely come on Wednesday against the Orioles.