ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Red Sox pitchers were on the field early Saturday afternoon serving a dual purpose.
First, was the customary batting practice that pitchers are awarded after earning a shutout, as David Price, Matt Barnes and Craig Kimbrel combined to blank Tampa Bay, 1-0, on Friday night.
Second was a more practical reason, with Boston set to depart for a two-game series at Miami on Monday and Tuesday. Brian Johnson draws the [...]
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Red Sox pitchers were on the field early Saturday afternoon serving a dual purpose.
First, was the customary batting practice that pitchers are awarded after earning a shutout, as David Price, Matt Barnes and Craig Kimbrel combined to blank Tampa Bay, 1-0, on Friday night.
Second was a more practical reason, with Boston set to depart for a two-game series at Miami on Monday and Tuesday. Brian Johnson draws the start under National League rules in the season’s fifth game, and the former two-way player during his college days at Florida was among those visiting the bleachers with a couple of deep drives to right.
“He was a good hitter six years ago,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora joked.
Chris Sale is scheduled to start the second game, and he also appears intent on testing the fences at Marlins Park. Sale was among those watching in the clubhouse when Chicago Cubs’ outfielder Ian Happ drove the first pitch of the 2018 season from Jose Urena into the stands in right for a solo home run, a moment he would like to recreate himself early next week. Managers occasionally find it prudent to have their pitchers refrain from swinging the bat for fear of injury in the box or running the bases, but Cora said Sale might force different circumstances to be considered.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do that the way he’s talking,” a smiling Cora said. “We’ll see.”
Losing the designated hitter will force Cora to shuffle his lineup, with J.D. Martinez on target to play “one or two” games in left field against Miami and Andrew Benintendi likely to slide over the center field. Cora said he had his lineups mapped out through the Miami series by Monday of this week and has been in constant communication with each of his position players.
“Some of those guys, they knew before we even got here,” Cora said. “I was a guy that really liked when the manager told me ahead so I could prepare.”
Getting healthy
Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee), Drew Pomeranz (flexor strain) and Tyler Thornburg (right shoulder) are all scheduled for rehab appearances early next week in Fort Myers.
Rodriguez threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is expected to pitch six innings on Tuesday. Cora and Price are both interested to see how quickly the left-hander can make his return to the rotation.
“I’m excited to see what Eddie can do,” Price said after his dominant season debut on Friday. “To me, he’s been our best pitcher in spring training just watching bullpens and watching him throw on the back fields.”
“It’s very important for him to be 100 percent,” Cora said. “This organization has been through that path before, and it seemed like it didn’t work out. We have to make sure he’s completely healthy.”
Pomeranz threw an extended bullpen session on Friday, and Cora said he would work “four or five” innings on Wednesday. Thornburg also pitched in a game for the first time on Friday and is expected to throw again either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Extra swings
Jackie Bradley Jr. and Blake Swihart were among those taking extra batting practice more than four hours before Saturday’s 6:10 p.m. first pitch.
Bradley had the night off after going 0-for-7 through the first two games of the season while Swihart still awaits his 2018 debut. Despite his versatility, Swihart remains blocked behind the plate by Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon and in the infield by Rafael Devers, Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt.
“That’s a tough one, because we play the National League in the upcoming days,” Cora said. “He’ll pinch hit. As far as defensively, we’ve got the two guys behind the plate.”
Devers and Vazquez also had Saturday off, with Nunez sliding to third and Holt starting at second. Leon made his first start of the season, catching Rick Porcello.