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Alex Cora gives hint about future of Red Sox’ rotation with Lucas Giolito coming back
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- Alex Cora gives hint about future of Red Sox’ rotation with Lucas Giolito coming back
BOSTON — The Red Sox ' rotation mix is about to undergo some significant changes with Brayan Bello back and Lucas Giolito close to joining him — and Alex Cora offered a hint about how the team will line up its new-look starting five Thursday.
With Bello back (and good to go for Sunday in Cleveland on regular rest) and Giolito one rehab start away from his club debut, the Red Sox will be closer to full strength than they have been at any point this season. As expected, Cora signaled, lefty Sean Newcomb will likely be bumped from the group — though it remains possible he'll get one more start.
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"We'll see how it goes with Gio, then we'll make a decision," Cora said. "With Gio, if everything goes well, we won't go to a six-man rotation. I guarantee you that."
How exactly the Sox will line everyone up on their upcoming road trip is a bit unclear. Tanner Houck , Walker Buehler and Bello will pitch on turn against the Guardians before Monday's off day. Cora said that Crochet "probably" won't pitch on regular rest Tuesday in Toronto , so Boston will need a starter for that game. Newcomb will be available if the team wants to give him the nod or the Red Sox could use a spot starter like Cooper Criswell or have a bullpen game against the Blue Jays. Unless there's an injury, righty Hunter Dobbins won't be an option because he can't be called back up to the majors until May 4 .
It sounds like Crochet will likely then pitch Tuesday with Giolito, after a start Friday in Worcester, finishing off the series with the Jays at Rogers Centre. At that point, the Red Sox will have a full starting five of Crochet, Giolito, Houck, Buehler and Bello, marking the first time the group has been together this year. (The Sox could also reverse course and throw Crochet, Giolito and Houck in Toronto wiht everyone rested).
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What that means for Newcomb — who has a 4.43 ERA and has allowed 32 hits in 22 ⅓ innings over five starts — is unclear. As someone with more than five years of serice time, he can't be optioned to the minors freely. The Red Sox might choose, then, to keep the Mass. native in a long relief role at the expense of someone like Luis Guerrero (or Brennan Bernardino if Cora feels like four left-handers in the bullpen is too many) .
What's clear now though is that the Red Sox have plenty of capable depth — and more is coming even with Dobbins, Newcomb, Criswell and others in the fold.
Righty Richard Fitts, who posted a 3.18 ERA in three starts before suffering a pectoral strain last weekend in Chicago , is throwing up to 120 feet and feeling better. He'll likely be in Worcester when he's fully healthy. Righty Kutter Crawford is in Fort Myers to resume his throwing progression and will take the important step of facing hitters for the first time soon.
"It'll be a lot of Masa (Yoshida) vs. Crawford matchups down there," Cora said.
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Read the original article on MassLive .
