BOSTON — Just like he did six times in 2023, lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino will serve as the Red Sox’ opener in Thursday’s series finale against the Guardians.
Boston announced Bernardino, who has a 1.69 ERA in 5⅓ bullpen innings this season after starting the year in Triple-A, as its starter opposite Cleveland veteran Carlos Carrasco for Thursday’s game. Manager Alex Cora said righty Cooper Criswell, who was called up to start Saturday against the Angels and allowed two runs in four innings, will likely see a large, multi-inning out of the bullpen. So expect Criswell to be the bulk reliever behind Bernardino, who is likely starting because most of the the Guardians’ top three hitters (Steven Kwan, Andres Gimenez and Josh Naylor) are left-handed. The bullpen will be fresh after Tanner Houck pitched a three-hit, complete game shutout in Wednesday’s 2-0 win.
Bernardino was excellent as an opener in six starts last year while Boston’s rotation was banged up. He allowed just two earned runs and seven hits in nine innings as a starter while recording 14 strikeouts. The Sox were 3-3 in games he started, often as an opener for Nick Pivetta. Coincidentally, Bernardino’s start will come in part because Pivetta (mild flexor strain) is on the 15-day injured list along with righty Garrett Whitlock, who was placed on the IL on Wednesday with a slight oblique strain. Thursday would be Pivetta’s day to pitch.
With two of five starters out, the Red Sox will need to fill rotation openings just once on a road trip to Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford are in line to pitch on regular rest Friday and Saturday against the Pirates, but the Red Sox will need someone for Sunday’s series finale at PNC Park. After that, they plan to take advantage of Monday’s off day to reset the group. Tanner Houck, Bello and Crawford will be on normal rest to pitch in Cleveland next week; Boston has three off days in an 11-day span from April 29-May 9 and Pivetta and Whitlock could both be back by the first week of the month.
Criswell and long reliever Chase Anderson are the top options to make starts in Whitlock’s absence; at Triple-A, recent trade acquisition Naoyuki Uwasawa and journeyman Jason Alexander could get the call. Reliever Josh Winckowski is not under consideration to move to a starting role anytime soon, Cora said before the game.
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