Red Sox announce left-handed reliever as opener for series finale vs. Guardians
The Red Sox will start left-handed pitcher Brennan Bernardino as the opener on Thursday, the team announced on Wednesday night.
Bernardino is no stranger to the opener role, where he made six starts last season. Red Sox skipper Alex Cora said that right-hander Cooper Criswell will likely see time as a bulk-innings reliever. The tall righty should be the first pitcher called upon after Bernardino is removed from the game.
The southpaw owns a 1.69 ERA in 5 1/3 bullpen innings this season after starting the season with the WooSox. Bernardino excelled in the opener role over six starts, aiding a Red Sox rotation that was dealing with injuries. He allowed just two earned runs and seven hits in nine innings as a starter while recording 14 strikeouts. Boston was 3-3 in the games he started.
The need for Bernardino to start comes on the heels of losing Garrett Whitlock, who was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain. The club only has Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, and Tanner Houck healthy, with Nick Pivetta expected to return from the IL soon.
Boston should keep Bello and Crawford on regular rest against the Pirates on the road. The club will need someone to start the series finale at PNC Park on Sunday. With the off day on Monday, Cora will reset the rotation and have Houck, Bello, and Crawford pitch in Cleveland.
The Red Sox have three days off in an 11-day span from April 29 to May 9. There is hope that both Pivetta and Whitlock could be back by the first week of the month.
Chase Anderson, Criswell, Jason Alexander, and Naoyuki Uwasawa are all options to start for the Red Sox while Whitlock is on the shelf.
Alexander has pitched well in three starts; he’s 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA while striking out 13 batters over 14 2/3 innings. He went nine straight hitless and scoreless innings over his last two starts. The Calif. native has experience as a starter in the big leagues, making 11 starts for the Brewers back in 2022 and making 66 career MiLB starts.
