ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If Rafael Devers is dealing with an arm or wrist injury, the Red Sox aren’t acknowledging it.
Devers was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Boston’s 5-0 Game 1 loss to the Rays on Thursday and appeared to be experiencing discomfort with his right wrist or arm. ESPN’s Jeff Passan tweeted during the game that Devers is “clearly compromised,” noting that he is “trying to play through an arm injury” suffered in the American League Wild Card Game. Others, including WEEI’s Lou Merloni, tweeted that they believed Devers was playing hurt.
After the game, Devers declined comment through a team spokesman and a team source said any report of a Devers injury was “not true.” When asked if Devers is injured, manager Alex Cora cited the normal wear and tear of an 162-game season.
“After 162 (games), things happen and you get treatment, and you grind, you know?” Cora said. “Not everybody is 100% right now, and he is posting.”
Devers had three homers in Boston’s final two regular season games against the Nationals over the weekend before going 0-for-2 with two walks and a run in the Wild Card Game on Tuesday. After Game 1 on Thursday, he was spotted wearing a bandage over his arm, though it’s unclear if the Red Sox have done any testing on it.
On Tuesday, Devers looked uncomfortable after a massive swing on a Gerrit Cole fastball in the first inning, then dropped his bat on a big swing against Luis Severino in the sixth. Cora eluded to a theory that Devers was “setting up” opposing pitchers by dropping his bat but didn’t go into further detail.
“A few days ago everybody said he was setting up the pitcher whenever he drops the bat,” Cora said. “Today because he (got one hit), he is hurt.”
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