With Josh Beckett close to returning, Valentine is leaning toward temporarily employing a six-man rotation for the next two weeks that would include Jon Lester, Felix Doubront, Aaron Cook, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Franklin Morales.
“I’m considering it,” Valentine said. “Until the All-Star break? Yeah. I think there’s a situation where, depending on how we slot Josh in, I think it can benefit everyone to get a little creative there until the All-Star break.”
The plan is credited to Morales’ success. Since getting the spot start for Beckett on June 17, the lefty — who started the season as a reliever — has thrived in a starting role, striking out 17 batters through 11 innings of work.
By opting to go in that direction, it means the Red Sox could also be without Clay Buchholz for that period. Before Tuesday’s game, the team announced that Buchholz was battling esophagitis, which led to gastrointestinal bleeding.
“He has been evaluated and observed at Mass General Hospital,” the statement read. “Clay is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.”
In the meantime, Beckett will likely take Buchholz’s slot in the rotation as he is scheduled to start against Seattle on Friday. When the Red Sox placed Buchholz on the disabled list on Sunday, the team subsequently activated Cook from the DL.
Cook will likely get bumped a day, as the six-man rotation goes into effect over the team’s next 13 games before the All-Star break.
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