Red Sox News: Eduardo Rodriguez Has 'Serious' Ankle Injury, Won't Need Surgery

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez suffered a "serious" right ankle sprain during Saturday's victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday.

Ryan Hannable of WEEI reported the news, noting the injury occurred when the southpaw was covering first base.

"There's some serious damage in the ankle," manager Alex Cora said. "No surgery required. He's going to have a [walking] boot for two weeks, and then we will re-evaluate to see where he's at."

While Cora suggested a longer timetable for return than the 10 days on the disabled list, Rodriguez granted the setback was feeling better than it did in the immediate aftermath.

"It feels a little bit better now. It's nothing like crazy," he said. "When you do damage like that the next day you're never going to feel 100 percent, but I feel a little bit better. We'll see what happens and how everything goes in the next couple of days."

According to Hannable, Cora was "optimistic" the left-handed starter will take the mound again during the 2018 season, which is a relief for the Red Sox given how effective he has been. He sports a 3.44 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, which would both be career-best marks, and 110 strikeouts in 19 starts.

Rodriguez has given Boston a reliable starter behind Chris Sale, and Hannable noted he holds the longest active scoreless streak in the major leagues at 19 innings.

The Red Sox still have Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello to anchor the rotation in their battle with the New York Yankees in the American League East (Boston holds a 4.5-game lead), but Rodriguez represents another potential shutdown starter to throw in a longer postseason series where the team will need to win more than just Sale's starts.