The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles managed to play just two innings in Sarasota, Fla., on Monday before Mother Nature sent everyone packing.
The Red Sox will be back in action against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, with Clay Buchholz getting the nod for Boston. Buchholz has been sharp this spring, giving up just four earned runs over 13 innings.
We have some spring training notes to go over before diving into Tuesday’s contest, so let’s go.
– Red Sox manager John Farrell reiterated Monday that Grady Sizemore’s adjusted schedule for this week isn’t the result of any physical issues. There simply was some miscommunication, according to the skipper.
“There have been so many different (plans) talked about that I might have just communicated a wrong one to you,” Farrell told reporters Monday. “With a week to go in camp, there was going to be five games played. We wanted to try to stay away from a day game after a night game as part of the three. … All those things were looked at.”
— Daniel Nava played center field in an intrasquad game Sunday. He’ll play center field in a minor league game this week.
— Craig Breslow pitched for Single-A Greenville on Monday. The left-hander tossed 18 pitches (11 strikes) while facing three hitters in a scoreless inning.
— Jake Peavy pitched six innings in a simulated game Monday. The right-hander threw 100 pitches, and he’s scheduled to pitch against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday (the Red Sox’s final Grapefruit League game).
— Shane Victorino was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup with left side discomfort. He’ll instead take batting practice in Fort Myers.
Farrell told reporters Tuesday that the move was precautionary. Victorino still is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
That being said, the Red Sox could have Victorino play in minor league games the rest of spring training in case they need to place him on the disabled list once camp breaks. Having Victorino play in minor league games would allow the Red Sox to place him on the DL retroactively if that’s the route they ultimately take.
Victorino said he has every intention of playing in Boston’s four remaining spring training games, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford.
— Jackie Bradley Jr. is in right field for Tuesday’s game. The idea is to get him action there in case Victorino isn’t ready for Opening Day.
— The Red Sox still are having internal discussions about whether Bradley or Sizemore will be the club’s Opening Day center fielder, according to Farrell.
One thing that’s clear is it will be an “either-or” scenario. Farrell indicated Tuesday that if Victorino is healthy for Opening Day, the Red Sox will choose between Bradley and Sizemore rather than carry both on the big league roster.
Sizemore has had a tremendous spring and could win the starting center field job, but there’s some thought the 31-year-old could use 40 to 50 more plate appearances before joining the major league club. Sizemore, of course, hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2011.
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