Red Sox' Richard Fitts has dominated this spring. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)Getty Images
Manager Alex Cora announced Saturday that Garrett Crochet will be the Red Sox' Opening Day starter.
He also said Tanner Houck will start the second game and Walker Buehler will start the third game.
A competition continues for the final two starting rotation spots with Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford all beginning the season on the IL.
Cora named Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester, Cooper Criswell and non-roster invitee Sean Newcomb as the top four candidates battling for the two spots.
“They’re all throwing the ball well,” Cora said. “They’re capable of doing that. (Michael) Fulmer, we extended yesterday. So we gotta see where we at. But we’ll make a decision probably in the upcoming days.”
Fitts likely locked up one of the two spots with another strong outing Friday. He tossed 4 ⅓ scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while walking nobody and striking out four against Miami.
“What I saw yesterday was great,” Cora said. “Stuff was great, strike throwing was good. You gotta throw strikes. We have to throw strikes. Sean did it, too, against the Mets, a really good lineup. Just keep pounding the strike zone, get people out. But I think it’s more about strike throwing for me."
The 25-year-old Fitts allowed just four earned runs in 20 ⅔ innings (1.74 ERA) in his first four big league starts last September.
Cora said Fitts' stuff looks a lot better now. The righty has allowed just one run in 10 ⅔ innings so far this spring. He has given up seven hits and four walks while striking out 13.
“Velo’s up,” Cora said. “He was pitching at 96, 97 yesterday. He was very efficient. He was able to move the ball around, change speeds. He was efficient. He had to finish in the bullpen yesterday. That’s always a good sign in spring training. Right now he’s been impressive. He did an amazing job in the offseason. He and his wife, they were in Boston since the first week of January. And just put the work in the weight room. Working with the pitching group and he’s put himself in a great position.”
Priester, a 24-year-old righty, will start Saturday against the Braves here at JetBlue Park. He has made three starts this spring. He has allowed two runs, eight hits and four walks while striking out five in 6 ⅔ innings.
Newcomb, a 31-year-old lefty, has started 60 games in the majors. He has allowed just one run, five hits and three walks while striking out 10 in 9 ⅔ innings.
Criswell, a 28-year-old righty who made 18 starts for Boston last year, has given up four runs, eight hits and two walks while striking out eight in 6 ⅔ innings in Grapefruit League action.
