Red Sox leave Friday open in weekend rotation

BOSTON --- Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez and Zack Godley are all scheduled to make starts in the upcoming four-game weekend series with the Orioles.

Eovaldi leads off for the Red Sox on Thursday night at Camden Yards. Perez and Godley will take the ball on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Friday remains the latest open date for Boston, and its bullpen has been taxed as a result. Eovaldi and Perez are the only two Red Sox starters to throw a pitch in the fifth inning this [...]

BOSTON --- Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez and Zack Godley are all scheduled to make starts in the upcoming four-game weekend series with the Orioles.

Eovaldi leads off for the Red Sox on Thursday night at Camden Yards. Perez and Godley will take the ball on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Friday remains the latest open date for Boston, and its bullpen has been taxed as a result. Eovaldi and Perez are the only two Red Sox starters to throw a pitch in the fifth inning this season. Eovaldi is the only one with a quality start, managing a pair.

"It makes a difference, there’s no question," Boston manager Ron Roenicke said. "We’re using six or seven guys a night most of the nights, and that’s going to strain your bullpen."

Colten Brewer threw a career-high 73 pitches while serving as the opener Friday night against the Yankees. Brewer was forced to come back Tuesday in Boston’s 13-6 loss to the Phillies, as ineffective stints from several relievers left Roenicke with few options. He had even less at his disposal on Wednesday afternoon.

"I got the report from the medical staff on usage of our bullpen," Roenicke said. "It looks like there are going to be probably three or four guys who are down today and a couple guys we’d like to stay away from."

All but three of the listed 11 Red Sox relievers have worked in the past two days. Josh Taylor went back-to-back in his first two appearances of the season and took the loss on Tuesday. The left-hander has recovered from COVID-19 but never threw on consecutive days during his rehab at the alternate site in Pawtucket.

"Right now we’re trying to get through today," Roenicke said. "Hopefully we’ll have a good one today and guys will be rested up with a good outing tomorrow. Then we’ll figure it out."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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