Anthony Ranaudo has three wins in three career starts with the Boston Red Sox. Each victory has been followed by a demotion.
Ranaudo was optioned to Single-A Greenville as the Red Sox activated shortstop Xander Bogaerts from the seven-day concussion disabled list before Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The Red Sox chose to keep infielder Carlos Rivero for the time being.
Ranaudo’s demotion figures to be short-lived, though. The Red Sox opted to send Ranaudo to Greenville rather than Triple-A Pawtucket so that the right-hander can return to the major league squad Tuesday.
Greenville’s season ends Monday, meaning Ranaudo will be eligible to rejoin Boston without missing a turn in the big league rotation. Ranaudo is expected to make his scheduled start Wednesday against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox also are considering using a six-man rotation in September, according to manager John Farrell.
The Red Sox are using the final month-plus to assess players who could factor into their 2015 plans. Ranaudo certainly is making a case to be involved in those plans, as he has pitched six innings while allowing three runs or fewer in each of his first three major league starts.
Bogaerts returns to the Red Sox on Saturday after missing the club’s last six games. The 21-year-old was drilled in the head by a pitch from Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez on Aug. 22.
