The Boston Red Sox needed to fix their pitching after their second consecutive last place finish. They feel like they did that by acquiring the best available starting pitcher in the free agent market and grabbed one of the best closers in the game via trade.
Manager John Farrell announced what we already knew, when he officially announced David Price will start the regular season opener at Cleveland on Monday. Price pitched 8.2 scoreless innings in a season opening win over the Twins, while pitching for the Tigers on opening day last season.
Clay Buchholz will pitch the second game of the season, and is scheduled to start the home opener against the Orioles on April 11th. Nothing else was officially announced as far as the starting rotation, but Joe Kelly may start the season as the number three, with Rick Porcello number four, and Stephen Wright number five. Eduardo Rodriguez will take a spot in the rotation, when he returns from injury.
Farrell also announced Brock Holt will see the majority of time in left field against right hand pitching to start the season. With Corey Kluber on the mound for the Indians in the opener, Holt will probably be in the lineup.
The third base competition may come down to this weekend when the Red Sox travel to Montreal for two exhibition games against the Blue Jays. Travis Shaw has played well, hitting .333 with two homers and nine RBI this spring. Sandoval is hitting .270 with two homers and six RBI this spring.
The Red Sox will play split squad games against the Pirates and Rays in Florida on Wednesday. They will finish their Florida stay with a game against the Twins on Thursday. They play the two games against the Blue Jays in Montreal on Friday and Saturday, before heading to Cleveland for the season opening three game series starting Monday.
