BOSTON — Ahead of their longest series of the 2024 season, the Red Sox re-shuffled their starting pitching mix.
With the Red Sox and Blue Jays resuming their suspended game from June 26 as they left it (in the second inning) at 2:05 p.m. ET on Monday, the clubs will effectively play a doubleheader with the regularly scheduled game on tap for 7:10 p.m. ET. According to the team, Nick Pivetta will pitch when the suspended game resumes and the Game 2 starter is TBD. Originally, Pivetta was slated to pitch Game 2.
The Red Sox also announced their starter for Tuesday as TBD. That was originally scheduled to be Cooper Criswell’s start. The club will then turn to Brayan Bello on Wednesday and Kutter Crawford on Thursday to finish off the series; Tanner Houck is in line to pitch Friday night’s series opener in Detroit.
The shuffle was made in part due to the desire to have Pivetta pitch in the first game but also adds some flexibility when it comes to Criswell. The righty, after throwing 80 pitches in 4⅔ strong innings Wednesday in Houston, would be on full rest for Game 2; if he pitches, the Red Sox will need someone else for Tuesday. Quinn Priester, who is in Worcester and on the 40-man roster, would be in line to pitch if the Red Sox need a starter from Triple-A. According to a major league source, it’s not likely that a top Triple-A prospect like Richard Fitts comes up to start the second game Monday.
The club will be able to add a 27th player — likely a pitcher — to the roster for Monday’s nightcap.
The Blue Jays are expected to use José Berríos on Monday, either as their first option in the suspended game or as the starter in the nightcap. Righty Yariel Rodríguez is on tap for Tuesday.
The Red Sox enter the series against the Blue Jays with a 67-62 record.
