PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Red Sox came into camp excited about having the most starting pitching depth they¡¯ve had in years, and it looks like some of that depth will be needed.
Righty Kutter Crawford continues to be slowed by soreness in the patellar tendon in his right knee and is iffy at best -- if not doubtful -- to be ready for Opening Day. Crawford dealt with the injury from his third start on last season, but grinded through it and made all of his starts.
It acted up again in the offseason and he hasn¡¯t felt right during camp.
¡°With Kutter, that¡¯s the one, it looks like it¡¯s going to be long [in camp] before he pitches,¡± manager Alex Cora said. ¡°I know Opening Day right now is kind of like an if. Let¡¯s see what happens. He¡¯s just not feeling well. He¡¯s behind and we¡¯ve got to make sure the knee is good so the shoulder doesn¡¯t suffer.¡±
Speaking of shoulders, righty Brayan Bello has been dealing with inflammation in his since the start of camp.
¡°Actually, Bello has a strength test tomorrow to see where we¡¯re at and make sure the plan fits what we need from him,¡± said Cora.
Is Bello also in jeopardy to be ready for the start of the season?
¡°He hasn¡¯t started throwing bullpens yet,¡± said Cora. ¡°Let¡¯s see next week how it goes.¡±
The only three members of the projected starting rotation lined up to pitch in the first week of Spring Training are Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler. Crochet goes on Sunday and Houck pitches on Monday. A day hasn¡¯t been set in stone for Buehler yet.
Lucas Giolito underwent an internal bracing procedure last spring and is on track to start the season on time. He threw two innings of batting practice on Friday, indicating he is close to pitching in a game.
As far as depth options in the rotation if there are pitchers who are slowed earlier in the season, the Sox have Quinn Priester (who started Saturday against the Rays), Richard Fitts (1.74 ERA in first four MLB starts last year) and Cooper Criswell (valuable swingman last season).
There is also some concern on the position-player side of things as right fielder Wilyer Abreu has been kept out of workouts after arriving to camp with a G.I. virus. Though he's feeling better, Abreu won't participate in baseball activities until his labs return normal.
¡°Nothing yet,¡± said Cora. ¡°The labs came in on Friday. There¡¯s still something there. We¡¯ll get another lab on Monday and we¡¯ll see where we¡¯re at.¡±
Abreu is the starting right fielder and is coming off a solid rookie season in which he won a Gold Glove Award.
While there is no concern about star slugger Rafael Devers starting the season on time, he has had a slower progression in Spring Training as he came in with injuries in both of his shoulders that plagued him last year.
Saturday marked the first time Devers took batting practice on the field. He also started his throwing program, taking grounders and firing to first base.
Masataka Yoshida, coming off right labrum surgery, isn¡¯t a sure thing to be ready for the start of the season. The left-handed hitter has only thrown at short distances so far.
The Red Sox plan on Yoshida playing some left field this year after he played just one inning in the field last year, and it¡¯s unclear if they would carry him on the roster to start the season if he can only DH.