Bill Koch

Friday

Aug 7, 2020 at 6:21 PM


BOSTON --- The Red Sox have made a pitching decision that acknowledges their current plight in the American League East race.


Boston entered Friday night last in the division and will skip the No. 5 spot in its starting rotation next time through. Nathan Eovaldi will take the ball on regular rest in Sunday’s series finale with the Blue Jays and Martin Perez could follow on regular rest Monday against the Rays.


The Red Sox went just 4-8 overall through their first 12 [...]

BOSTON --- The Red Sox have made a pitching decision that acknowledges their current plight in the American League East race.


Boston entered Friday night last in the division and will skip the No. 5 spot in its starting rotation next time through. Nathan Eovaldi will take the ball on regular rest in Sunday’s series finale with the Blue Jays and Martin Perez could follow on regular rest Monday against the Rays.


The Red Sox went just 4-8 overall through their first 12 games and sat last in the standings as they returned to Fenway Park. Boston is 4-2 when Eovaldi or Perez takes the mound and a winless 0-6 otherwise.


"Obviously we need to get it going somewhere," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "Hopefully we get both clicking – we get good pitching and our offense takes off like we know it can."


The Red Sox went 3-4 on their seven-game road trip, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees. Boston rallied to split a pair of games in Tampa Bay this week, two dates that were bracketed by scheduled off days. The Red Sox are now scheduled to play for each of the next 17 days, their longest such stretch of 2020.


"We know somewhere down the line we have to have a couple really good series to bounce back and get to a place where we can feel comfortable," Roenicke said. "Then from there just steadily take off – maybe get hot again. But we know somewhere in here we have to play better and have a couple really nice series."


Ryan Weber made his third start of the year on Friday and Zack Godley was set to make his second on Saturday. Boston’s original fifth starter, Matt Hall, has since been optioned to Pawtucket. The Red Sox used an opener in that spot Sunday night in the Bronx, turning to right-hander Austin Brice.


bkoch@providencejournal.com


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