Slaten allowed one hit and zero walks in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season in Sunday's season finale against Tampa Bay.
Slaten allowed a bunt single to Dylan Carlson to lead off the ninth but otherwise had no trouble wrapping things up. With incumbent closer Kenley Jansen on the injured list, Slaten was able to notch his first save since March 31. The 27-year-old Slaten had an encouraging rookie season out of the Red Sox bullpen, pitching to a 2.93 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 58:9 K:BB in 55.1 innings with six wins, 13 holds and two saves. The 37-year-old Jansen is set to become a free agent, so Slaten could find himself in the mix for saves next season.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Returns to mound Monday
Rotowire
Slaten struck out one over a scoreless inning in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against Toronto.
Slaten, who was activated from the 15-day injured list earlier in the day, made his first appearance for the Red Sox since July 7. He came on in the fourth inning and worked around an infield error. The Red Sox have felt Slaten's loss, and they hope the right-hander can stabilize what has been a shaky bullpen in the second half.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Throws bullpen Sunday
Rotowire
Slaten threw a bullpen session prior to Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Slaten began a rehab assignment Friday for Double-A Portland, in which he exhibited shaky command, and Sunday's session was to address those issues. Boston manager Alex Cora told MLB.com that Slaten will most likely be with the Red Sox "in the upcoming days." That could mean at least one more rehab appearance for the right-hander.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Slaten (elbow) allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over one-third of an inning for Double-A Portland on Friday.
Slaten kicked off a rehab assignment Friday and threw 17 pitches (eight strikes). The Red Sox haven't indicated whether the right-handed setup reliever will require additional rehab outings before he is activated.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Bullpen Monday, rehab stint after
Rotowire
Slaten (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday and start a minor-league rehab assignment shortly thereafter, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Slaten will incorporate an up and down into Monday's bullpen before embarking on what's expected to be a brief rehab assignment. The 26-year-old has been on the shelf since July 12 due to elbow inflammation. The issue wasn't expected to sideline Slaten for more than the minimum 15 days, but his recovery was thrown off schedule by an illness.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Now throwing at 120 feet
Rotowire
Slaten (elbow) has been cleared to throw up to 120 feet, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Slaten has been progressing through a throwing program after landing on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation July 12. He's yet to gain clearance for mound work but could get approval to do so shortly if all continues to go well in his rehab.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Limited to playing catch
Rotowire
Slaten (elbow) remains limited to playing catch from 75 feet out as of Monday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Slaten landed on the 15-day injured list July 12 with right elbow inflammation and was believed to be in line for a minimum-length stay on the shelf, but a bout with an illness ended up delaying him from starting up a throwing program. He looks like he'll still need some time to increase his throwing distance off flat ground before the Red Sox clear him for mound work.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Plays catch Saturday
Rotowire
Slaten (elbow) played catch Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Slaten came out of the session feeling good and will continue to throw from flat ground for now. The Red Sox hope he won't require an extensive ramp-up period after that. The right-hander has been a key bullpen piece for Boston this season, and the team could have used him after being swept by the Dodgers over the weekend.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Headed to IL
Rotowire
The Red Sox placed Slaten on the 15-day injured list Friday with right elbow inflammation, retroactive to July 9, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Slaten has logged a 3.38 ERA across 42.2 innings with the Red Sox this season and will be shelved for at least two weeks to manage inflammation in his throwing elbow. Cam Booser was recalled from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Earns third hold
Rotowire
Slaten earned his third hold of the season, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one over 2.2 innings in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Angels.
Setup reliever Chris Martin (non-throwing shoulder) was unavailable, so manager Alex Cora went with Slaten to shepherd a lead to the ninth inning. Slaten has worked in long relief -- five of six outings have involved at least one up-and-down. It's not clear how Cora would manage the setup duties should Martin miss significant time. Slaten, a Rule 5 selection, is inexperienced but has performed well over his first six MLB outings (0.87 ERA, one walk, 10.1 IP).
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Fires two scoreless innings
Rotowire
Slaten allowed one walk and struck out one over two scoreless innings in Thursday's 9-4 extra-inning loss to Baltimore.
Slaten picked up his second hold in support of starter Garrett Whitlock's five strong innings, but shoddy infield defense eventually allowed the Orioles to post a second straight comeback win. Slaten, a Rule 5 pick, has sparkled thus far; the right-hander has allowed one hit and one walk while striking out seven over 7.2 scoreless innings.
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Red Sox's Justin Slaten: Sent over to Boston
Rotowire
The Red Sox acquired Slaten from the Mets on Wednesday in exchange for Ryan Ammons and cash considerations.
New York just plucked Slaten away from the Rangers in the Rule 5 Draft, but the 26-year-old right-hander is once again on the move. He registered a 2.87 ERA and 86:20 K:BB in 59.2 innings between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock in 2023.
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Mets' Justin Slaten: Plucked in Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire
The Mets selected Slaten during the 2023 Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.
Slaten spent most of last season at the Double-A level and had a 3.16 ERA and 76:16 K:BB over 51.1 innings, and he gave up just one run in his five appearances at Triple-A down the stretch. That apparently wasn't enough for the Rangers to justify adding him to the 40-man roster, allowing the Mets to select him. The 26-year-old has plenty of strikeout potential and will need to be with the big-league club for all of 2024 in order to stick in Queens.
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Rangers' Justin Slaten: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Slaten (undisclosed) has been placed on the 7-Day injured list at High-A Hickory.
Slaten, the No. 86 overall pick in the 2019 first-year player draft, has struggled since his professional debut. He had a 6.46 ERA in rookie ball in 2019 and has a 6.40 ERA and 44:30 K:BB in 32.1 innings at Double-A this season.
