X on hold, Holt on spot
Bereaving Bogaerts’ exit creates SS need
Expect Brock Holt to be the Red Sox shortstop for the first three games against the Tigers in Detroit.
Xander Bogaerts will be placed on the bereavement list and won’t be eligible to return until Monday at the earliest. Players on the bereavement list can be away from the team for as many as seven days and a minimum of three. Bogaerts was 2-for-9 with two stolen bases to begin the year.
Marco Hernandez, the left-handed-hitting utility infielder who had an impressive spring training, will be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Bogaerts’ spot on the roster.
The additional left-handed bats should be welcome for most of the four-game series, since the Tigers will throw only one lefty — Daniel Norris on Sunday. Manager John Farrell has said multiple times that he plans on Hanley Ramirez making his debut at first base in that game.
Drew Pomeranz was supposed to make his season debut on Sunday, but Farrell shuffled his rotation after yesterday’s rainout. The Red Sox will make up their game with the Pittsburgh Pirates next Thursday at 2:05 p.m.
“I just think with the
number of common off days without exceeding the consecutive number of days played, Thursday was the most logical,” Farrell said. “The Pirates are traveling into Chicago for a Friday series beginning that day. I just think we didn’t want this hanging out there as a possibility and it slots in kind of naturally.”
One benefit of the rainout: The Sox were trying to take an earlier flight to Detroit and should be well-rested for the series. All four games begin at 1:10 p.m.
Steven Wright will stay on schedule and pitch today while Eduardo Rodriguez, who was supposed to start yesterday, was moved back to tomorrow. Rick Porcello gets the ball Sunday,
Chris Sale on Monday in a showdown against Justin
Verlander and then Pomeranz on Tuesday, when the Sox return home to face Baltimore.
The Red Sox will have an adjusted bullpen in Detroit, since Matt Barnes has been placed on the bereavement list. He can return on Sunday because his three-day minimum began yesterday. Right-hander Noe Ramirez was recalled from Pawtucket to take his place.
David Price (elbow strain) will travel with the team and continue his throwing progression. He threw from 100-plus feet yesterday morning and will resume throwing again tomorrow.
The Sox will also be without lefty Robbie Ross
Jr., who was placed on the 10-day disabled list with influenza. Shortstop Deven Marrero was recalled to take his spot.
Tough to watch
As happy as the Red Sox were to watch Sale carve up the Pittsburgh batting order on Wednesday, there was at least one person who did not enjoy it. White Sox pitching coach
Don Cooper, who worked with Sale during his entire tenure in Chicago, had some interesting remarks to the Chicago Tribune yesterday.
“It wouldn’t be easier to watch if he was getting whacked,” Cooper said. “I’m not pulling for that for him. I’m pulling for him to do well. What’s hard to watch is him doing it in a Boston uniform.”
Sale and the Red Sox bullpen combined to keep the Pirates from ever reaching second base in their 3-0 win in 12 innings. Since at least 1950, no team had ever prevented an opponent from reaching second in a game that lasted that long.
The White Sox are trying to keep their minds on the future, manager Rick
Renteria said, according to the Tribune. Yoan Moncada made his Triple-A Charlotte debut last night.
Left to own devices
Andrew Benintendi has looked like a seasoned veteran playing in front of the Green Monster through two games at Fenway Park. He’s already performed the deke move perfected by Jonny Gomes, among other left fielders at Fenway through the years, and made a particular impact on Sale’s start when he played a line drive off The Wall perfectly to keep Josh
Harrison at first base. Sale fostered a double play on the very next pitch.
“Benny made that double play basically happen,” Sale said. “Without getting that ball in quick off The Wall and keeping the guy at first (we don’t get it).” . . .
The last time the Red Sox began the season 2-0 was in 2013.