Red Sox 1B Pearce to open on IL


Boston Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce, the reigning World Series MVP, will begin the season on the injured list.

He is suffering from a left calf injury and hasn’t played in spring training since March 17. The Red Sox open their season Thursday at the Seattle Mariners.

“It makes sense for us, makes sense for him,” manager Alex Cora said on MLB.com. “He should be back sooner rather than later, but he won’t be ready for Seattle, so why take a chance?”

Sam Travis will replace Pearce on the Opening Day roster.

Pearce batted .284 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs in 215 at-bats with the Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays last season. The Red Sox acquired him in a trade on June 28, after which he hit .279 with seven home runs in 50 games.

He was a postseason force, with four homers and 11 RBIs in 38 at-bats. He smacked three homers in the World Series as Boston won the crown in five games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit one homer in Game 4 and two in the decisive Game 5.

Pearce, who turns 36 next month, signed a one-year deal worth $6.25 million in the offseason and is expected to platoon at first base with left-handed-hitting Mitch Moreland.