Has Johan Oviedo Done Enough To Earn No. 5 Rotation Spot originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox came into camp looking to determine who their No. 5 starter would be in the rotation, and Johan Oviedo was a candidate to win the job.

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The Red Sox traded for Oviedo this offseason, but also acquired Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez. Oviedo, Payton Tolle and Connelly Early quickly became candidates to be the final starter in the rotation. Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval were originally seen as options, but have yet to make an appearance in a spring training game.

Oviedo and Early are the two real candidates at this point based on their spring performances. Tolle has a 4.05 ERA in three outings and is likely to start in Triple-A.

Oviedo has yet to allow a run this spring. He has thrown 111 pitches and worked eight innings in three starts. In his spring training debut, he walked three batters, hit one batter and allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of work. He only threw 15 of his 33 pitches for strikes. In his last two outings, he has thrown 6 1/3 innings and has eight strikeouts. He has allowed just four hits and has thrown 57 of his 78 pitches for strikes.

Early has had a strong spring as well, but he may not have the edge over Oviedo at this point. He has made two starts in three outings and has worked 8 1/3 innings. He has a 2.16 ERA, allowing two runs on Feb. 28 coming out of the bullpen. This spring, 76 of his 117 pitches have been thrown for strikes.

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Right now, it looks like Oviedo will be the fifth starter for the Red Sox. Tolle and Early will seemingly start the season in Triple-A. Garrett Crochet, Suarez, Gray, Brayan Bello and Oviedo would then be the starting rotation to start the season.

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