Right-hander Lucas Giolito landed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 9) with an abdominal strain Tuesday, and outfielder AJ Pollock (hamstring) joined him retroactive to April 10.
Giolito seemed destined for the IL after he left his Opening Day start Friday, but the Sox waited to return home and recalled Jimmy Lambert from Triple-A Charlotte. Lambert will take Giolito’s turn in the rotation Thursday against the Mariners.
“It’s early in this process,’’ general manager Rick Hahn said. ‘‘We all remain cautiously optimistic that he’ll miss two starts.’’
Left-handed reliever Anderson Severino also was recalled from Charlotte, giving the Sox 15 pitchers.
Giolito pitched four scoreless innings with six strikeouts before leaving with a 3-0 lead against the Tigers.
“I feel significantly better each day,” Giolito said. “Been able to keep my arm moving, which was super important to me with this process having to miss some time.”
Giolito played catch outside for the first time Tuesday.
“Recovery and rehab have been going about as good as possible,” Giolito said. “It’s still early.”
Pollock, acquired by the Sox from the Dodgers in the Craig Kimbrel trade, exited the game Saturday against Detroit with a tight right hamstring. Hahn expects Pollock to return when his IL stint is up. He was going to miss at least one game starting on Tuesday on paternity leave.
Lambert allowed one run and one hit in three innings in his April 7 start for Charlotte. He went 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA and 10 strikeouts in three starts and four overall appearances for the Sox last season.
“I’m not necessarily expecting him to get us deep into the game, but he’s certainly someone who can open for us and give us quality innings up front,” Hahn said.
Severino, who has shown 100 mph velocity, has no major-league experience. He allowed three runs and three hits in 2⅓ innings with Charlotte this season.
Lucas Giolito pic.twitter.com/XfBCBuSZFz
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) April 12, 2022
Great to see Harold
Harold Baines was a welcome sight at the home opener, 11 months after the Hall of Fame outfielder and designated hitter received heart and kidney transplants at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
Baines was introduced with Bo Jackson, Jim Thome and Ozzie Guillen and threw out the first pitch.
“The most exciting part about today for our fans and franchise, their No. 1 son is Harold,” said Tony La Russa, who managed Baines during his first run with the Sox. “To have Harold here is going to blow this place up.”
La Russa, like most everyone else, had been unaware of what Baines was dealing with. The transplants were needed after Baines discovered he had familial amyloidosis, a hereditary condition affecting his organs.
“It wasn’t easy,’’ Baines said in a video produced by the Sox. ‘‘But the nurses and the doctors made it to the point where I was comfortable to be here without worrying about the next day. They took care of me every day. And I’m very grateful.”
Cueto warming
Right-hander Johnny Cueto is throwing well off a mound at the spring-training complex in Arizona and will face hitters soon as he builds up toward joining the team.
