Overview
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa was removed from Boston’s lineup and said Saturday he will get an MRI after more than two weeks of left forearm discomfort that worsened following the team’s flight to Seattle.
- Kiner-Falefa told reporters he does not expect a serious injury and hopes for a quick return while the club waits for imaging to confirm the severity.
- The infielder has filled an expanded defensive role since Trevor Story went on the injured list, making starts at shortstop, second base and third base and increasing the impact of any absence.
- If the MRI shows a more significant problem and Kiner-Falefa lands on the injured list, Triple-A Worcester catcher Anthony Seigler is the most likely immediate call-up to provide positional depth.
- Kiner-Falefa is on a one-year deal and has hit .277 with a .344 on-base percentage in 47 games this season while ranking highly for defensive value, so his health will influence both Boston’s lineup and its trade-deadline calculations.