Heart condition preventing Kenley Jansen from joining Red Sox in Colorado

LOS ANGELES - Kenley Jansen and the Red Sox are taking no chances.

Because of Jansen's pre-existing heart condition, he will not be joining the club for their three-game series in Denver. The closer explained after the Red Sox' 9-6 loss to the Dodgers the reasoning behind a decision that was made early in the season.

"Too many times stuff happened over there with me," Jansen said. "The (2022 season) was the last time I went there. It started off when I went back to Atlanta. I started having issues and then after a couple of weeks I went back to Afib (atrial fibrillation). I’m just trying to avoid that right now and try to get to the postseason and I don’t think that’s a great time to go there and mess things up and next thing you know it’s going to hurt the team more. I would rather skip that one and be ready for the Yankees series."

Jansen went on to explain that three different series in the high altitude of Denver resulted in his heart needing to be shocked back into rhythm, with the procedure needed in 2011, 2012 and 2018. That most recent time, six years ago, necessitated a 911 call and an ambulance ride to the hospital.

Because of his history, Jansen and the Red Sox didn't hesitate in making the decision to play without the reliever for the next three games. The team will not be allowed to replace Jansen on the active roster.

Knowing he wouldn't be available until Friday's game at Fenway Park against the Yankees, Alex Cora chose to use Jansen in the eighth inning with the Sox' trailing by three runs. Jansen ultimately surrendered three runs in the frame.

"I know it’s tough to come into that situation, but those are the innings, knowing that I’m going to Colorado, I just want to pick up my teammates," he said. That’s why I pitched in that situation."

Regarding the Dodgers sweep of the Red Sox, Jansen added, "We just have to shake it off. Sometimes these situations comes and goes. It’s a long season. You just have to turn the page, for me. Just got to turn that page and be ready for the next one. ... We just have to keep playing. Tomorrow is another day. We have to keep playing. Every day matters."