With 10 days left until opening day for the Boston Red Sox there is still uncertainty with the opening day roster. I am going to take a shot at predicting the 25 players who Alex Cora will bring with him to St. Petersburg on March 29th.
Starting pitching: Chris Sale and David Price are a lock to pitch the first two games. With the start of the season for Drew Pomeranz most likely being pushed back a bit, Rick Porcello will start game three. The four and five starters are up in the air. Steven Wright is coming off an injury but signs are pointing to him being ready. Brian Johnson is out of minor league options and may round out the rotation at least until Pomeranz is ready. Eduardo Rodriguez will be a factor when healthy. Manager Alex Cora has some flexibility after the first turn through the rotation. After playing six straight days, the Red Sox only play three games in the next six days.
Sale, Price, Porcello, Wright, Johnson
Relief pitching: There are still decisions to be made here. Tyler Thornburg will start the season on the disabled list but will hopefully be a factor during the season. Craig Kimbrel will anchor a bullpen that should be a strength. Carson Smith will be the main setup guy. The Red Sox will hope for another strong year from Joe Kelly and improvement from Matt Barnes, especially on the road where Barnes struggled in the 2017 season. I believe Brandon Workman has more upside than Heath Hembree, but expect Hembree to make the opening day roster. Workman can be sent to the minors, Hembree is out of options. The only two lefty options out of the pen are Robby Scott and Roenis Elias The final two spots will be between Workman. Elias, Scott, and Austin Maddux. I expect Johnson to get sent to the bullpen and one of these four be sent down or moved when Pomeranz is ready early in the season.
Kimbrel, Smith, Barnes, Kelly, Hembree, Scott, Workman
Infield: Dustin Pedroia will start the season on the disabled list. That hole is less glaring with the signing of Eduardo Nunez. When the Red Sox signed JD Martinez that made Mitch Moreland a reserve with Hanley Ramirez expecting to get the majority of the starts at first base. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers will be on the left side of the infield. The Red Sox are hoping Devers defense improves so they don’t need to use a late inning defensive replacement. With Deven Marrero and Blake Swihart out of minor league options they look like they will make the opening day roster barring a trade. Surprisingly Brock Holt has a minor league option and the Red Sox could use it. The Red Sox may be shopping Holt to other teams.
Ramirez, Nunez, Bogaerts, Devers, Moreland, Marrero
Outfield/DH: This group is as exciting as it gets defensively. Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley JR, and Mookie Betts will take the field from left to right. JD Martinez will be the regular DH. I expect Martinez to get some starts in left field with Benintendi moving to Center in those games. Swihart will be listed as the third catcher but will move around as the utility guy and be used as the fourth outfield when Martinez is the DH.
Betts, Benintendi, Bradley JR, Martinez
Catcher: Christian Vazquez will be the regular catcher. Sandy Leon will be the backup. If Swihart is on the roster be will be the third catcher plus have many other roles.
Vazquez, Leon, Swihart
