NEW YORK — The Red Sox know Walker Buehler won’t start Monday after being moved to the bullpen. It remains to be determined who will take his place in the rotation in the immediate future.
The Red Sox are considering two main candidates to start their series opener in Baltimore on Monday — one pitcher on the roster and one who’s not. Righty Richard Fitts, who is available out of the bullpen against the Yankees on Saturday, might take the ball. So could lefty Kyle Harrison, who is at Triple-A Worcester and awaiting his Red Sox debut more than two months after coming over as a key piece in the Rafael Devers blockbuster with the Giants.
“We’ll see how the weekend goes and then we’ll decide what we’re going to do on Monday,” said manager Alex Cora.
Fitts, who re-joined the Red Sox on Thursday, is serving as the long man out of the bullpen but has not pitched yet. If he’s needed to throw multiple innings Saturday, he won’t be available to pitch Monday. If the Red Sox avoid using Fitts — a good bet with ace Garrett Crochet starting — he’s probably the favorite to pitch at Camden Yards. Harrison is scheduled to pitch Sunday in Worcester; it remains possible the Red Sox scratch him from that outing if Fitts is needed in relief duty.
Fitts has bounced back and forth between the majors and Triple-A this season and owns a 4.83 ERA in 10 big league starts. He struggled to a 6.86 ERA in a 21-inning stretch over six starts between June 2 and July 28 and had spent all of August with the WooSox before this week. The 25-year-old has pitched well in three starts this month in the minors, logging a 3.00 ERA and allowing five earned runs (and striking out 16) in 15 innings.
Harrison has made 39 career MLB appearances (35 starts) but the Red Sox have kept him in Triple-A in order to help him develop since the trade. He has a 3.69 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 46 ⅓ innings over 10 starts, numbers aided by a 2.25 August ERA that followed early struggles.
“Hit or miss, to be honest,” said Cora. “Not efficient, but good stuff. He’s part of the equation.”
With Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Hunter Dobbins and Patrick Sandoval out for the season and Buehler in the bullpen permanently, the Sox are looking for a No. 5 option behind Crochet, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Dustin May for the final month. One name that has entered the mix is Payton Tolle, the fast-rising top pitching prospect who has gone from High-A to the doorstep of the majors in just a few months. Tolle, who allowed one run, one hit and no walks while striking out nine in five innings in his third Triple-A start Friday at Polar Park, isn’t in the mix to pitch against the Orioles. But his high-octane arsenal and impressive mound presence have the 22-year-old as an option to possibly factor in down the stretch.
“Good stuff,” said Cora. “There’s a few things we’re still working on, but so far, so good. The stuff is real. He’s very efficient. Pounds the strike zone. Everybody’s pleased with the progress.
“He’s physical. We know that. Little by little, he keeps getting better. So we’ll see what the future holds.”
One pitcher who — for now — isn’t available is swingman Cooper Criswell. The righty was placed on the seven-day IL at Triple-A earlier this week due to elbow inflammation. It’s not expected to be a serious injury but still depletes the Sox’ depth for the time being.
“I don’t know the details but from what I know, it’s nothing too serious,” said Cora. “Obviously, him on the IL doesn’t help. He did an outstanding job against Houston (on August 1), right? He’s a good pitcher and he’s part of the equation.”
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