Red Sox are still looking for starter to pitch Thursday’s finale in Minnesota
A look at some possibilities to take the mound in the series finale against the Twins
The Red Sox haven’t decided who will start in the series finale on Thursday in Minnesota. Cora did narrow down some decisions on who it could be, while also ruling out the club is unlikely to go outside the organization or add someone not on the 40-man roster.
Prior to the series opener, Cora told reporters he expects the starter will come from their 26-man or 40-man roster. Whoever starts will replace Tanner Houck who was placed on the injured list with a facial fracture.
One candidate is WooSox left-hander Brandon Walter who had one of his better outings this past Saturday on the road against the Norfolk Tides. The WooSox played in a doubleheader, Walter tossed 4 1/3 innings giving up three hits, two earned runs, with no walks while striking out six batters. It was the first start this season where Walter didn’t give up a walk to a batter.
Boston could look to Kaleb Ort again in an opener role similar to his first career start on Sunday afternoon. Ort tossed 2 1/3 innings with his only issue being a two-run homer he surrendered to Gleyber Torres in the first. The Sox bullpen took care of the rest and shut down the Yankees' offense.
Nick Pivetta could be a candidate. The righty has been excellent over his last 16 1/3 innings posting a 2.20 ERA. Even though Pivetta has been pitching better of late, it’s unlikely the club will give him the start. Cora has remained adamant he likes the righty out of the bullpen.
Corey Kluber is the least likely to start in the finale. The veteran hurler imploded once again out of the bullpen against the Twins on Tuesday night.
Kluber was poor tossing three innings where he gave up five hits and surrendered four earned runs. Twins outfielder Byron Buxton launched a two-run homer blast in the eighth. Royce Lewis and Max Kepler went back-to-back in the ninth to make it 10-4. In the process, Kluber’s ERA ballooned to 7.04 while recording his first career save.
If Boston changes their stance and looks to go outside the 26-man and 40-man roster, Shane Drohan (started Tuesday for Worcester), Rio Gomez and Jake Faria (temporary inactive list) are internal options.
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