The Red Sox need to decide the final two spots in the rotation, and an interesting name is in the mix.
Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford will start the season on the injured list. Alex Cora confirmed Saturday that Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler will start the season for Boston.
Cora also told reporters that Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester and Sean Newcomb will compete for spots on the Opening Day roster.
“They’re all throwing the ball well. They’re capable of going that,” Cora told reporters, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. “We’ll make a decision, probably in the upcoming days.”
Saturday was the first time the Red Sox manager mentioned Newcomb as a possibility for the rotation. The Brockton, Mass., native signed with Boston this offseason after two seasons with the former Oakland Athletics. The left-hander’s pitched well in spring training, recording a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings with five strikeouts.
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Criswell, Fitts and Priester also impressed during spring training and have been in the Red Sox system longer than Newcomb. But Cora and the coaching staff will give everyone a fair shot to earn a spot in the rotation.
Priester will look to impress Saturday when he starts against the Atlanta Braves at JetBlue Park. You can catch the action on NESN at 1:05 p.m. ET.
