As Boston Red Sox roster decisions loom, Alex Cora feels ‘really good’ about new lefty

The Red Sox' regular season opener is in 15 days. Roster decisions and/or position battles loom in the bullpen.

Red Sox' Justin Wilson has struggled but the team isn't concerned. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Getty Images

Manager Alex Cora said the Red Sox need to decide whether to take two or three left-handed relievers.

Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson — two lefties signed in free agency during the offseason — will receive spots.

The 37-year-old Wilson has struggled in four Grapefruit League games. He has allowed seven runs (five earned), six hits and two walks while striking out four in 3 ⅔ innings. He pitched two innings in an intrasquad game on the backfields Wednesday.

Despite his struggles, the Red Sox like what Wilson brings.

“Good stuff. Different fastballs,” Cora said. “He’s a lefty that he believes and we believe can get righties out. We really don’t know which route we’re going to go. Are we taking two or three lefties? But he’s a guy that we feel really good about. Velo’s up.”

Wilson inked a one-year, $2.25 million contract Nov. 14. It also includes another $750,000 available in performance bonuses. His fastball averaged 95.5 mph last year and he ranked in the 95th percentile among major leaguers in chase percentage (33.8%).

“We had a conversation with him about the backfields and what we accomplish with that,” Cora said. “And he actually feels he’s competing anyways but in a controlled environment. Just make pitches when he has to, not to worry about the results, right? It’s just about execution, which is good.”

Wilson threw his split-finger fastball just nine times last year but it’s a pitch he worked to improve during the offseason.

“I added it last year and I just wasn’t super comfortable with it,” Wilson said earlier in camp. “But I worked on it a lot this offseason and changed my grip. It seems like a lot more comfortable pitch for me to throw now and I plan on using it.”

The Red Sox also have left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino on the 40-man roster and he’s fighting for that potential third lefty spot with non-roster invitees Matt Moore and Sean Newcomb.

Bernardino has thrown 4 scoreless innings and allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five.

“I think Bernie’s been good,” Cora said. “The changeup is something new and it’s a good one.”

Righties Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly, Josh Winckowski and Luis Guerrero are in the mix for the final spots but MassLive’s Chris Cotillo had Weissert, Winckowski and Kelly on the outside looking in when he released his most recent Opening Day roster projection.

Cotillo’s roster projection had two lefties (Chapman and Wilson). He had Guerrero making the team along with non-roster invitees Adam Ottavino and Michael Fulmer.

“We’ve got different avenues to go,” Cora said. “We’ll decide that whenever we have to make a decision.”

Weissert is making a strong case. He has allowed just one hit over 6 scoreless innings in Grapefruit League action. The righty allowed no earned runs in his final 16 ⅔ innings last year after moving from the third base side to the first base side of the rubber.

“I think some of those guys, strike-throwing has been an issue lately,” Cora said. “Wink is the one that has been struggling. And he knows it. They are working hard, fixing a few things mechanically, usage-wise and repertoire-wise. So we’ll see where we go there.”

Winckowski has allowed 10 earned runs on 11 hits and five walks in five innings.

Guerrero also has had control issues recently. He walked one batter in his first three Grapefruit League outings. But he has seven walks in his past three outings.

The closer competition remains up for grabs with Chapman, Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten competing for it.

Hendriks has struggled so far, allowing six runs on 11 hits (two homers) in 4 innings.

“I haven’t even thought about that one,” Cora said about the closer competition. “We’re just gonna let them pitch, right? And when we get closer and we see what we want to do structure-wise, then we’ll decide what we do.”

Cora said Chapman has been used in the “biggest moments either early or late” in games in recent years.

“We know that we have capable guys of getting outs from the seventh (inning) on and I’ll repeat myself — we’ll get there when we get there," Cora said.

Cora also pointed out the importance of having Garrett Whitlock back in the pen.

“I truly believe this year, with Whit back and healthy, he can give everybody a breather,” Cora said. “And then we don’t have to be too aggressive in certain days. We can flip him the ball in the eighth and he can get six outs and we move on and everybody resets for the next game or next series. But he’s very important. We saw it last year. When he went down, there was a void. Other guys didn’t step up and they know it. It’s very important for us to keep him healthy.”