BOSTON --- Ryan Weber has been optioned to the Red Sox alternate site in Pawtucket.
Boston dispatched the No. 3 starter in its rotation after just three outings. Dylan Covey was recalled from McCoy Stadium and joined the Red Sox ahead of their Saturday night game with the Blue Jays.
This comes with Boston just starting its longest stretch without a day off of the shortened season. The Red Sox began a sprint of 17 consecutive contests with a 5-3 victory over Toronto on [...]
BOSTON --- Ryan Weber has been optioned to the Red Sox alternate site in Pawtucket.
Boston dispatched the No. 3 starter in its rotation after just three outings. Dylan Covey was recalled from McCoy Stadium and joined the Red Sox ahead of their Saturday night game with the Blue Jays.
This comes with Boston just starting its longest stretch without a day off of the shortened season. The Red Sox began a sprint of 17 consecutive contests with a 5-3 victory over Toronto on Friday. Weber lasted just nine outs and didn’t factor in the decision.
"He knows he’s not pitching the way he should be," Roenicke said. "So that was the reason for sending him down. We’re going to make probably another switch to figure out when that spot comes up."
Weber allowed a leadoff homer to Cavan Biggio in the top of the first, the fifth round-tripper conceded by the right-hander in just 10 innings. Weber walked nine and struck out just three during his latest stint with Boston. He actually lowered his earned-run average to 9.90 in spite of Friday’s short outing.
"Right now it’s a challenge – there’s no question," Roenicke said. "But we have a lot of pieces that do different things. We have length, which is the biggest thing you need obviously when you’re talking about a bullpen day."
The Red Sox could have two of those on tap next week. Nathan Eovaldi will take the ball for Sunday’s series finale with the Blue Jays and Roenicke said Martin Perez would make his next start on Tuesday against the Rays. Boston would now seem somewhat committed to right-hander Zack Godley, who made his second consecutive start on Saturday.
"We have the 17 games and that just makes our starts that much more important," Eovaldi said. "We’ve got to go out there, go seven, eight or nine innings and give our team a chance to win. Try to keep the bullpen out of the games."
Weber made his first Opening Day roster thanks to a strong spring and Summer Camp, but a look at his extended track record suggested the Red Sox were taking a gamble. He posted a 4.50 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-A last season and exceeded a 4.75 ERA in limited big league stints with Atlanta (4.76 and 5.45, 2015 and 2016), Tampa Bay (5.06, 2018) and Boston (5.09, 2019).
"We saw it all spring," Roenicke said. "He was locked in. His command was outstanding. He wasn’t walking anybody. We need to get him back to that pitcher."
Covey was scheduled to throw five innings in a simulated game at Pawtucket on Saturday. Roenicke declined to specify whether or not the right-hander would be used as a starter or reliever at some point. Covey made a combined 45 starts over the last three seasons with the White Sox and compiled a 6.54 ERA.
"Do we need him for just a couple or do we need him for longer than that?" Roenicke said. "The game will dictate how that happens and what we need him for."
The Red Sox have at least three candidates stretched out elsewhere in their player pool, but none figure to be ready for a start until later next week. Brian Johnson struck out six in five innings on Friday while Kyle Hart and Tanner Houck logged a combined 9 1/3 innings going head-to-head on Saturday. Hart retired all 18 men he faced during his previous simulated game appearance and is the lone pitcher among that trio on Boston’s 40-man roster.
"We know who we want to start Monday," Roenicke said. "We just may need to use that guy before."
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