Projecting Red Sox’s Opening Day Rotation/Bullpen As Spring Training Begins

Projecting the Opening Day rotation or bullpen for any team is a difficult task, but the Boston Red Sox have done their best to spell things out for us entering the 2023 season.

Above all else, the Red Sox’s plan of attack this offseason came in trying to build pitching depth. Boston went out and added eight new pitchers to its 40-man roster, including former Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber and three-time All-Star closer Kenley Jansen. The only question remaining — fine, maybe not the only question — is where those pieces fit in a staff that was among baseball’s most inconsistent in 2022.

Here’s a projection of the Red Sox’s Opening Day rotation and bullpen:

Starters
LHP Chris Sale
RHP Corey Kluber
RHP Garrett Whitlock
LHP James Paxton
RHP Brayan Bello
RHP Nick Pivetta

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As it has been for the past half decade, health is the primary concern for the Red Sox’s rotation pieces. Chris Sale hasn’t made more than 10 starts since 2019, James Paxton hasn’t been healthy in nearly four years and Kluber enters 2023 as Boston’s second-oldest player.

Risk of injuries is the deciding factor for carrying six starters, with the Red Sox making it clear they intend on using Garrett Whitlock in that role. Boston will undoubtedly be happy with the idea of giving its three oldest arms an extra day off or two in between starts to begin the season.

Relievers
RHP Kenley Jansen
RHP Chris Martin
RHP John Schreiber
LHP Richard Bleier
RHP Tanner Houck
LHP Joely Rodríguez
RHP Wyatt Mills

Given Major League Baseball limiting teams to only 13 pitchers, there were a few tough cuts here. Luckily, all of those who missed out on our Opening Day projection have the roster flexibility to satisfy those requirements without putting the Red Sox in too much a pickle.

Jansen, Chris Martin, Richard Bleier and Joely Rodríguez were brought in to help the Red Sox build a bullpen with more solidified roles.

Wyatt Mills, specifically, gets the nod over the likes of Ryan Brasier (RHP) and Kaleb Ort (RHP) due to age, while edging out Brandon Walter (LHP), Chris Murphy (LHP), Zack Kelly (RHP), Josh Winckowski (RHP) and Kutter Crawford (RHP) due to roster flexibility.