RED SOX JOURNAL: Martinez gets the call in right

J.D. Martinez was given his first outfield start of the season while Christian Vazquez served as the designated hitter for Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees.

Martinez had the day off for Saturday’s 5-2 defeat against New York. Vazquez moves out from behind the plate but remains in the lineup thanks to his strong start to 2020.

Andrew Benintendi, Alex Verdugo and Mitch Moreland all [...]

J.D. Martinez was given his first outfield start of the season while Christian Vazquez served as the designated hitter for Sunday’s series finale against the Yankees.

Martinez had the day off for Saturday’s 5-2 defeat against New York. Vazquez moves out from behind the plate but remains in the lineup thanks to his strong start to 2020.

Andrew Benintendi, Alex Verdugo and Mitch Moreland all missed out on left-left matchups with James Paxton. The Red Sox are willing to try just about anything at this point to awaken an offense that scored just three runs in its first two games this weekend in the Bronx.

"Just trying to mix it up a little bit," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "We’ve been talking about it. If it’s just a comfort thing, great. But anything to try to jumpstart it."

Vazquez has jumped out quickly with four home runs and eight RBI. He went deep three times in two nights while Boston swept the Mets at Citi Field. Roenicke said there was some consideration given to playing Vazquez at first base, a position he’s certainly familiar with.

"He’s very confident in what he does, and because of that confidence, he plays well," Roenicke said. "He’s got great hands and a great arm, so that’s never an issue there. And we want his bat in the lineup."

Kevin Plawecki drew the start behind the plate. Vazquez is likely to return to his usual spot Tuesday night against the Rays and will be expected to play back-to-back at Tropicana Field. The Red Sox have scheduled off days Monday and Thursday before returning home for the weekend.

"[Jason Varitek] is really handling the catchers — their workouts and their workload," Roenicke said. "We’ve asked him what he thought. We were actually going to catch him again today knowing we have tomorrow off and then catch him the next two in Tampa with another day off."

Boston’s immediate pitching future is clear through Friday.

Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez will make starts against the Rays. Roenicke said Ryan Weber would be granted a third start to open a weekend three-game set with the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.

How the Red Sox will handle the final two games against Toronto is unknown at this point. Zack Godley and Matt Hall have both made starts and Josh Osich has served as an opener through the club’s first nine games.

"We just have to figure out if we like them on a five-day the next time or if we keep them on a six-day like it is this time," Roenicke said. "It just depends on what we see in these games and who we can slip in there."

Austin Brice served as the opener Sunday night, with Boston hopeful of receiving up to two innings from the right-hander. Roenicke politely declined to identify the bulk pitcher he would send to the mound after Brice, joking it was "top secret."

Two bullpen left-handers continue their recovery from COVID-19 at the Red Sox alternate site in Pawtucket.

Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez each threw live batting practice over the weekend at McCoy Stadium. Taylor worked Friday afternoon and Hernandez took the mound on Saturday.

"We’re getting closer," Roenicke said. "[Taylor], probably just thinking more an inning. Darwinzon, if we bring him back, we’re thinking an inning — but with the coverage we may need to get him to two innings or maybe a back-to-back."

Boston currently has three southpaws on its 30-man roster, and none figure to slot into a high-leverage role in the late innings. Hall and Jeffrey Springs are multiple-inning candidates while Osich profiles more as a potential opener or as someone who could be used in the middle innings.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25