The Boston Red Sox are getting ready for the season, and one of the only questions remaining for them to answer is who their No. 5 starter will be.
Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray and Brayan Bello are locks for the starting rotation. However, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Johan Oviedo and Patrick Sandoval are all in the mix for the final spot. How they perform in spring training games will be important in the Red Sox making their decision.
The Red Sox will start off against Northeastern on Friday, but after that, they will start facing big league teams. Tolle, Early and Oviedo will all start early in Grapefruit League games. Tolle is slated to take the mound on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. Here's how the Red Sox lineup for the first six games of spring training, per MassLive's Christopher Smith:
- Saturday at Minnesota Twins: Payton Tolle
- Sunday vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Brayan Bello
- Monday at Tampa Bay Rays: Connelly Early
- Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Ranger Suárez
- Wednesday at Minnesota Twins: Johan Oviedo
- Thursday vs. Tampa Bay Rays: Garrett Crochet
Gray and Sandoval will not start in the first six games the Red Sox play this spring. However, there should not be too much reading into the order in which guys take the mound. Crochet is slated to be the opening day starter. Gray is the only starter who is seemingly a lock to be in the rotation, not starting in the first six games.
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