Depth tested with Kiké, Arroyo on COVID IL

For the Red Sox, an important seven-game road trip started in scramble mode.

With Kiké Hernández testing positive for COVID-19 and Christian Arroyo identified as a close contact, the Sox quickly had their middle-infield depth depleted heading into Friday night’s opener in Cleveland.

Hernández is also an important part of the equation in center field while the Red Sox are without outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who is on the bereavement list until at least Sunday.

“We’ve got some moving parts,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We’ve got guys on rehab assignments that are going to be with us sooner rather than later. We’re going to have to speed up the process with Danny [Santana] probably, so we’ll manage today as a group and we’ll deal with today. After the game, we’re going to be able to slow everything down and start looking at the future. That’s where we’re at.”

The loss of two key players comes with the Sox trailing the Rays by seven games in the American League East and leading the A’s by 2 1/2 games for the second AL Wild Card spot entering play on Friday.

A big four-game series at Tropicana Field against the Rays begins on Monday. For the Red Sox to have a realistic chance at winning the AL East, they will likely need to win three out of four or sweep. The Rays also come to Fenway for a three-game series from Sept. 6-8.

“I’m not going to get ahead of the Indians with the Rays,” said Cora. “I think what’s important is today. That’s the mindset we have. We did a good job against Texas [and Minnesota], the last two series, we won. We know where we’re at, just try to keep playing good baseball. Try to win series, don’t get caught up on two weeks, get caught up on what we can do today. Stay in the present, win today, try to win the series as soon as possible and keep moving forward.”

The Red Sox had been fortunate not to have any players miss games due to COVID-19 this season, though bench coach Will Venable and first-base coach Tom Goodwin (close contact) were out for an extended stretch earlier this month.

Now, they face a reality many other clubs have dealt with.

“I was concerned Feb. 10, so it’s something we’re dealing with in our world, outside our world, and I don’t want to say we’re lucky [because] we’ve been OK throughout the season, but it happened,” Cora said. “It’s happened to a lot of teams, so we’ve got to find a way to keep moving forward and keep playing good baseball.”

Cora stands by how vigilant the Red Sox have been to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on their club.

“We’ve been very disciplined,” said Cora. “Just talked to other people on other teams, [and] we’re probably the most aggressive team, testing-wise, throughout the process. So I think we’re doing a good job, [but] this is what we’re fighting against.”

Hernández is experiencing symptoms. The Red Sox hope that Arroyo’s subsequent tests will be negative.

“I know for a fact that [Hernández has] been great about all this stuff and taking care of his family for obvious reasons, with the baby and his dad and everything that comes with the territory in his situation,” said Cora. “But it’s something that we don’t control. We’re fighting an invisible enemy, and it just happened that he tested positive.”