Pomeranz set for Sunday
But rainout today could change plans
Drew Pomeranz says he’s ready to face major league hitters. Even if that didn’t go so well in spring training.
Pomeranz is likely to make his season debut for the Red Sox on Sunday on the road against the Detroit Tigers, manager John Farrell said before last night’s game. Pomeranz began the year on the 10-day disabled list with a forearm strain and is eligible to be activated on Sunday. Farrell was originally unsure if Pomeranz would be ready, since his velocity was down all spring and he wasn’t particularly effective.
“I feel about normal for the beginning of the year,” Pomeranz said. “I feel great. I’ve got 90 pitches in, I feel that’s what most people did the last start anyway, so I feel I’m right where I need to be.”
The Red Sox could change their rotation if today’s series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates is rained out. The weather forecast doesn’t look promising, Farrell said, and the Sox would consider shuffling the rotation around if there is a rainout. The original plan is to have Eduardo Rodriguez pitch today, Steven Wright pitch tomorrow, Rick Porcello on Saturday and Pomeranz on Sunday.
What should the Red Sox expect from Pomeranz after he allowed 11 earned runs in 12 innings with seven walks and eight strikeouts in the Grapefruit League? He’s been unpredictable. He couldn’t locate at all for the first two innings of one start against the Blue Jays, then looked dominant for his final two innings.
The Red Sox went down to the wire with Pomeranz, making him prove he was ready in a final minor league tune-up on Monday in Fort Myers.
“I had a good one on Monday,” Pomeranz said. “Ball was coming out of my hand, everything was moving like it should. I’m ready to go for this weekend.”
If it wasn’t Pomeranz, the Sox were going to try 32-year-old Kyle Kendrick. Instead, Pomeranz will get a chance to impress a team that saw him pitch to a disappointing 4.59 ERA after acquiring him from the San Diego Padres last year.
Should the Red Sox need a spot starter early in the season, Farrell said Kendrick, who pitched well this spring, is at the top of the call-up pecking order, ahead of both Brian Johnson and Henry Owens.
Bug bites Betts
Mitch Moreland missing a few exhibition games was one thing. Mookie Betts missing the second game of the regular season is something else.
It seems this flu bug is starting to be a real problem, at least for one night.
Betts was out of the Sox lineup last night. Farrell said Betts, utility infielder Brock Holt and left-handed reliever Robbie Ross Jr. are each dealing with flu-like symptoms, though tests for the flu itself have come back negative.
The loss of Betts is the most serious blow from an illness that’s been bouncing around the Red Sox clubhouse since the end of spring training.
“We still have to let them get through their symptoms before we get back to active play,” said Farrell.
Holt’s symptoms were significant enough that he was sent home. Farrell indicated that Betts and Ross were not available.
“We’ve got a few guys that we’re paying close attention to,” he said. “Whether or not they’re available tonight remains to be seen, but at the outset, particularly Mookie is not.”
Chris Young was in right field in Betts’ place. Xander Bogaerts was moved to No. 3 in the lineup.
Out of spring training, it seemed Moreland might miss a few games because of the illness, but he recovered from the flu in time to play on Opening Day. He hasn’t missed any time yet.
Price on road back
Rehab work continues for starting pitcher David Price. He again did longtoss at 100-plus feet, and he finished the throwing session by getting on a mound for 25 throws. It’s important to note that Price was not pitching to a crouching catcher. He simply played catch off the mound to get a feel for the slope again.
“The most encouraging thing is each throwing session he goes through, he comes out feeling good physically,” Farrell said. “And we’ll look to do the same tomorrow, maybe a little bit more distance on the longtoss.”
This was Price’s first time on the mound since his elbow injury in spring training. He will travel with the team to Detroit for the upcoming series.
Thorny situation
Reliever Tyler Thornburg’s latest medical tests will be today.
“We’ll determine tomorrow after he goes through a battery of tests in the weight room and in the training room whether it’s the time to put a ball in his hand or there’s further strengthening needed,” Farrell said.
Joe Kelly was supposed to fill in as the eighth-inning guy in Thornburg’s absence, but he is being held in a middle-relief role for now due to the poor command he displayed at the end of spring training, Farrell said.
Kelly was the sixth and final pitcher to be used last night, throwing two scoreless innings in the 11th and 12th to get the win.
“I feel good,” Kelly said. “I’m not exactly where I want to be yet, but hopefully here in the next couple outings I’ll be exactly there mechanically. Curveball, I got that going back for a strike, so if I keep doing that, I’ll take wherever I pitch.” . . .
Last night was Dustin Pedroia’s 1,400th career game, moving him ahead of Dom DiMaggio for the 11th-most games in franchise history.