The Red Sox have lined up their first turn through the rotation, though one spot still remains up for grabs entering the final weekend of camp.
Speaking to reporters in Fort Myers, including MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after Garrett Crochet takes the mound on Opening Day, Sonny Gray will be next up for the second game against the Cincinnati Reds, and the starter for Sunday’s finale is still to be determined.
Ranger Suarez will then start the series opener against the Houston Astros on Monday, March 30, Brayan Bello will get the ball for the second game on March 31 and Crochet will start the finale on April 1.
Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle are the three starters still in the hunt for the final spot, though according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford, Cora said the club is considering keeping one of the three as a long reliever to start the year.
If one of the starters is kept as a long relief option, it would largely be to provide a backstop for Suarez, who saw limited action with Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and is somewhat behind in his ramp up as a result. He tossed two innings and threw 43 pitches on March 6, and followed that with 2 2/3 innings and 51 pitches on March 14. At a similar point in camp most other starters had worked into the fifth inning, so while Suarez will start the season in the rotation, his workload will likely be managed for at least his first two starts.
Oviedo, Early or Tolle winding up in the bullpen would also complicate the picture for the remaining relievers vying for a spot, including Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson, rookie lefty Tyler Samaniego and non-roster invitees Tommy Kahnle, Kyle Keller and Tayron Guerrero.