NEW YORKWalker Buehler was moved to the bullpen, and the Red Sox are aware that he won’t start on Monday. Who will replace him in the rotation in the near future is still up in the air.
One pitcher on the roster and one who is not are the two primary contenders the Red Sox are considering to start their series opener in Baltimore on Monday.The ball might be taken by righty Richard Fitts, who is available out of the bullpen against the Yankees on Saturday. So might lefty Kyle Harrison, who is currently at Triple-A Worcester and is over two months away from making his Red Sox debut after joining the Giants as a crucial player in the Rafael Devers trade.
Manager Alex Cora stated, “We’ll decide what we’re going to do on Monday after we see how the weekend goes.”
Fitts has not yet pitched, but he is the long man out of the bullpen after rejoining the Red Sox on Thursday. He won’t be able to pitch on Monday if he is required to toss several innings on Saturday. With ace Garrett Crochet starting, Fitts is likely the favorite to pitch at Camden Yards if the Red Sox decide not to use him. Harrison is slated to pitch on Sunday in Worcester; if Fitts is required for bullpen work, the Red Sox may decide to bench him for that game.
Fitts has a 4.83 ERA in 10 big league starts this season and has alternated between the majors and Triple-A. Prior to this week, he had been with the WooSox for the entire month of August after struggling to a 6.86 ERA in a 21-inning period over six starts between June 2 and July 28. In his three minor league outings this month, the 25-year-old has pitched admirably, giving up five earned runs (while striking out 16) in 15 innings while recording a 3.00 ERA.
The Red Sox have kept Harrison in Triple-A to help him grow since the deal, despite the fact that he has made 39 career MLB appearances (35 starts).With a 2.25 August ERA after early setbacks, he has a 3.69 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 46 innings over 10 starts.
“To be honest, hit or miss,” Cora stated. Good stuff, but inefficient. He is involved in the equation.
The Sox are searching for a No. 5 option for the remaining month behind Crochet, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, and Dustin May, as Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Hunter Dobbins, and Patrick Sandoval are out for the season and Buehler is permanently in the bullpen. Payton Tolle, a rapidly developing top pitching prospect who has gone from High-A to the major leagues in a matter of months, is one name that has entered the mix. Tolle is not selected to pitch against the Orioles after giving up just one run, one hit, and no walks in five innings while striking out nine batters in his third Triple-A start on Friday at Polar Park. However, his superb mound presence and high-octane repertoire make the 22-year-old a potential factor in the final stretch.
“Good stuff,” Cora replied. We’re still working on a few things, but everything is going well so far. It’s real. He works really well. The strike zone is pounded. Everyone is happy with the development.
He is a physical person. We are aware of that. He continues to improve little by little. So, we’ll see what comes next.
The swingman Cooper Criswell is one pitcher that is now unavailable.Earlier this week, Triple-A put the righty on the seven-day injured list because of elbow discomfort. Even though it’s not anticipated to be a catastrophic injury, the Sox’s depth is currently reduced.
Cora stated, “I don’t know the specifics, but based on what I know, it’s nothing too serious.” Of course, having him on the IL isn’t helpful. He performed admirably versus Houston on August 1st, correct? He contributes to the equation and is a good pitcher.
