Houck into rotation, Pérez out

The Red Sox are moving Martín Pérez to the bullpen, manager Alex Cora said Friday afternoon prior to the series opener vs. the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Tanner Houck will take Pérez’s spot in the rotation.

Pérez pitched well in his first 10 starts of 2021, posting a 3.55 ERA in April and May (50⅔ innings pitched). Opponents hit just .250 against him in that span. Since then, however, he has posted a 6.02 ERA in 12 starts, allowing 71 hits and 16 homers in 49⅓ innings. Batters have hit .343 against him with a .996 OPS.

In an 8-1 loss to the Tigers Thursday, Pérez lasted just

innings — tied for his shortest start of the season — and allowed three runs.

“It’s something that, because of where we’re at and the people we’re adding in the upcoming days, it makes sense,” Cora said. “I’ve been saying all along, his stuff is a lot better than the results. But, obviously, it’s going to be where we’re going to be roster-wise in the upcoming days.”

With Darwinzon Hernandez on the injured list with a right oblique strain, Pérez gives the Sox that missing lefthander in the bullpen.

“It’s not easy,” Cora said of relaying the news to Pérez. “But he understands and he’s done it before. Having that third lefty is something that I’ve been telling [chief baseball officer] Chaim Bloom will be good. I do believe somehow, some way, he’s going to help us out of the bullpen.”

Duran on COVID list: The Red Sox placed outfielder Jarren Duran on the Covid-related injured list Friday ahead of their series opener against the Blue Jays in Toronto. They recalled infielder Jonathan Aráuz in a corresponding move.

Duran is undergoing tests at the team hotel in Toronto. The situation is similar to what happened to Matt Barnes before this week’s series against the Tigers in Detroit. Barnes later tested negative.

According to his agent,

Duran has had multiple negative tests for COVID19. His placement on the list, as of now, is based purely on symptoms.

“Obviously it’s not great, but it’s where we’re at,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s going through the whole process and hopefully we get good news later on.”

The rest of the team went through extensive testing, too, considering the circumstances.

Duran is hitting .176 (9 for 51) with two home runs in the majors this year.