By: Peter Alves
Like any team, the Redsox have questions going into Opening Day. Here are my 6 questions heading into the 2018 season: 1. Who will be the 5th starter? With both E-Rod and Wright coming off knee surgery, could be in the running, but an outside shot of Johnson or Ellias can make it as well. My guess would be Steven Wright being named the 5th starter. 2. What will the bullpen look like? The right handers in the bullpen are already set in stone but who will join Scott as the other left hander. They only have one lefty and I do not see them going into the season with only one. The three candidates are E-Rod, Johnson, or Ellias. E-Rod pitched out of the bullpen in the 2017 playoffs versus the Indians. In his only appearance giving up 2 ER in 1.1 IP. The other two candidates, Johnson and Ellias given a shot in Spring Training. My guess would be E-Rod being put in the bullpen and the other two being sent down. If E-Rod makes the rotation, Johnson would be my pick to make the bullpen as the other lefty, but Steven Wright would join the bullpen also. 3. What will the Redsox do with Blake Swihart? He’s out of minor league options, injury free, and the “yips” behind him, Swihart is trying out a utility role to start Spring Training to make the team. He will either make the team as a third catcher, utility man, traded to another team, or be sent on waivers due to no more AAA options. 4. What is the bench going to look like? With the Redsox signing JD Martinez, Moreland will be starting the year on the bench because of Hanley having to play 1B and Martinez playing DH, and Leon will be the backup catcher so that leaves two spots remaining (if it is the same number of position players as 2017). The candidates are Holt, Swihart, Castillo, Hernandez, Marrero, and Lin. Lin is usually an IF but is playing a lot of OF in the Spring to expand his versality, but I do not see him making the roster being blocked by Holt and/or Swihart. Castillo is an OF, but I do not see him making the roster being blocked by Martinez ability to play OF. I do not see Marrero making it because of Nunez being on the roster and expected him to replace Pedrioia because of his offseason knee surgery. The last two are tricky… Pedrioia is not expected to be back until at least May but if he is ready for Opening Day (highly unlikely), I see Swihart not making the team because of Nunez going to be on the bench now but this situation is most likely not going to happen. Holt has been the super utility player since 2015 and he’s been good at it. Swihart is trying to do the same thing to make a spot on the team. I see Holt making it because of his proven versality and I see Swihart to make the team to start off the year as an insurance catcher or a utility player. 5. What will the Opening Day Lineup be? Lineups change but Cora said he wants Hanley to be the 3 hitter, this is how I see the Opening Day lineup panning out: Betts, Benintendi, Ramirez, Martinez, Devers, Bogearts, Nunez, Vazquez, and JBJ 6. What will the Opening Day Rotation be? Pitching rotations do not matter but still a talking point, but this one is easy: Sale, Price, Porcello, Pomerantz, and Wright
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