What’s next for rehabbing hurler Bryan Mata?
The Red Sox initially planned to look at rehabbing right-hander Bryan Mata as a reliever, but now the club appears to be changing course.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters on Monday that Mata will stretch out more in the minors and will toss three innings on Thursday for the Portland Sea Dogs.
Cora said the organization isn’t necessarily looking at Mata as a starter, but stretching him out will offer the club more internal options to potentially start.
“You can always cut him short later on,” Cora said. “So we’ll stretch him out like everybody else and see where we’re at whenever we have to make a decision.”
If the Red Sox make the decision to add him to the 26-man roster once his 30-day rehab window ends, it will be the first time he will pitch in the majors. The Red Sox have to either activate him or designate the righty for assignment because Mata is out of minor league options.
With the potential of losing Garrett Whitlock for the year, Mata is another potential integral option to either start or be utilized as a bulk-innings pitcher.
Mata pitched last Saturday at High-A Greenville, allowing a run and three hits while striking out two batters in two innings. That was his second rehab outing since beginning his assignment in the Florida Complex League on May 13.
