BOSTON — The Red Sox named John Schreiber their starting pitcher against the Blue Jays on Saturday. It marks his second time being used as an opener.
Schreiber also opened against the Braves on July 25. He allowed one run, two hits and one walk in one inning before Nick Pivetta replaced him as the bulk reliever to begin the second inning.
The 29-year-old has struggled since the Red Sox activated him from the injured list. He spent from May 16 to July 25 on the 60-day IL because of a right teres major strain. In four outings since his return, Schreiber has allowed five runs, seven hits, two walks and one hit by pitch while striking out three in 4 ⅔ innings. He allowed four runs in 1-plus innings against the Mariners in Seattle on Wednesday.
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Pivetta likely will serve as the bulk reliever, although Boston could use lefty Chris Murphy who hasn’t pitched since Saturday, if the Blue Jays go with a left-handed lineup. Pivetta tossed 5 scoreless innings after replacing Schreiber on July 25. He has been successful in a bulk reliever role following an opener since late June. But he started Monday against the Mariners, striking out 10 in 7 ⅓ innings. He gave up three runs, five hits and no walks.
Why not just start Pivetta after he had success starting Monday?
“He was good before that, too,” manager Alex Cora said. “So I think you pitch whenever we tell him to and he’ll be fine. I think it’s good to have both guys (Pivetta and Murphy) available. … I think it’s actually an advantage in a certain way when you have both of them available. The opposition has to make a decision lineup-wise not knowing who will come in. Because it’s not like, ‘Hey, by the way, Pivetta’s the bulk guy.’ It doesn’t work that way. They see the lineup card and they have to make decisions. And you go and try to take advantage of it. It’s never a guarantee it’s going to be successful but at least you feel like you have the upper-hand.”
Talented righty José Berríos (8-7, 3.31 ERA) will start for Toronto.
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