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Boston Globe

Reliever Liam Hendriks questions his lack of usage: ‘If the theory is you want the best me, throw me.'

In 10⅔ innings, Hendriks has a 3.38 ERA, 21 percent strikeout rate, and 14 percent walk rate. In his first extended time on the mound since 2022, the three-time All-Star is still working to re-establish himself as a reliable late-innings force. Advertisement There's a chicken-and-egg dynamic in play, however. Hendriks feels it's difficult to get to peak form unless he pitches more regularly. He has yet to pitch in back-to-back games, and has had at least three days between outings four times in May. Meanwhile, most of his appearances have been in relatively low-leverage situations. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I just want to pitch, because the track record over the course of however long speaks for itself,' said Hendriks. 'With the more I pitch, the better I get. If the theory is you want the best me, throw me.' Hendriks and team both feel his four-seam fastball — which, while steadily averaging 95-96 miles per hour, has been hit hard at times — is regaining life at the top of the zone, resulting in some infield pop-ups that point to the possibility of future swings-and-misses. His slider and curveball have already been whiff-inducing weapons below the zone. Advertisement The Sox believe Hendriks has shown enough to suggest a potential emergence at some point as a high-leverage, late-innings contributor. 'When the time's right, absolutely get him in there, and hopefully that's soon,' said pitching coach Andrew Bailey , who indicated the team is working to 'on-board' Hendriks in game-on-the-line situations. 'I can see him helping us long-term, and hopefully soon, in high-leverage moments.' For Hendriks, the wait comes with frustration and questions — but to date, has not morphed into a desire for a trade. 'I'm not going to go that far or pushing that agenda,' Hendriks said of a trade request. 'I just want to pitch. I feel like I can make contributions to this team. I feel like I can make a lot more contributions than I have been, and I just want to be given that opportunity.' The Breakfast Club Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor has known Red Sox manager Alex Cora since he was a Little League player in Puerto Rico. In 2017, when Cora assembled Puerto Rico's team for the World Baseball Classic, Lindor was one of his first choices. 'Somebody I look to and admire a lot and have a lot of respect for,' Lindor said. 'He's a great manager and one of the smartest guys around.' But business is business, so when Cora came out of the dugout to argue with the umpires in the third inning of Tuesday's game, Lindor encouraged them to throw his friend out of the game. Advertisement 'It's just part of the game,' Lindor said. 'As a competitor I want all the advantages possible.' With Lindor on second base motioning for an ejection, home plate umpire Mike Estabrook tossed Walker Buehler and then Cora. But the Red Sox went on to win the game, 2-0. Cora and Lindor met for breakfast on Wednesday. 'We talked about it,' Lindor said. 'It was funny.' Cora said he talked to Michael Hill , MLB senior vice president of on-field operations, about his ejection, and said there would be no suspension from the ejection. Downpour on tap? Torrential rains are in the forecast throughout the day on Thursday. Cora said he didn't have any information about whether the scheduled Red Sox-Orioles game will be played, but acknowledged that there would 'probably' be some benefit to the Sox having a chance to reset their taxed bullpen with a day off in the middle of a stretch of scheduled games on 13 straight days. He also lamented the late-May weather that brought three straight games of 50-something-degree first pitches against the Mets. 'It's May 21, man,' said Cora. 'Somebody said, 'Ah, this is the Northeast.' Bro, I've been here half my life almost. It's not this.' Setback for Gonzalez Infielder Romy Gonzalez (quad contusion) suffered a setback in his rehab when he started running, a development that will prolong his injured list stint. 'He's not bouncing back the way we wanted,' said Cora. 'It's going to take longer than expected.' . . . Masataka Yoshida was scheduled o resume a throwing progression at 60 feet on Wednesday . . . Richard Fitts is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start on Thursday, weather permitting. The outing was originally scheduled for Triple-A Worcester, but the WooSox game has already been canceled. Fitts hopes to pitch in Double-A Portland. . . Righthander Noah Song , who pitched two scoreless innings and struck out four for the rookie-level FCL Red Sox on Tuesday, will make his next outing at a full-season affiliate. Advertisement Alex Speier can be reached at