Red Sox Surprisingly Will Skip Next Start For Key Veteran Pitcher

The Boston Red Sox will head from one important series to the next, but they won't have a key starting pitcher available for their three-game weekend set with the Houston Astros at Fenway Park.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed prior to Wednesday's series finale against the Kansas City Royals that they will skip Nick Pivetta's turn in the rotation. Cora didn't give a specific reason for bypassing Pivetta, but it seems like he is dealing with arm fatigue. The right-hander was slated to pitch Saturday.

"He's not responding well out of this one," Cora told reporters. "We do believe that skipping one, using the off day, we're going to reset him and he should be fine. We didn't like the velocity of the fastball. The other pitches were OK. But we have to take care of him and we got options for Saturday."

Cora didn't say who will take Pivetta's place in the rotation against the Astros, but a bullpen game could be a possibility, or a spot start for either Cooper Criswell or Josh Winckowski.

The good news for Pivetta is there is no structural damage to his arm, according to Cora. The 31-year-old didn't have his best showing last time out this past Sunday against the Texas Rangers. Pivetta was pulled after 4 2/3 innings and 70 pitches, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

He has been a workhorse throughout his career, making at least 30 appearances in five of the last six seasons -- the one season he didn't hit that threshold came in the 2020 COVID-shortened campaign.

That streak seems in jeopardy for Pivetta, who dealt with a right elbow flexor strain in the first month of the season which required a stint on the injured list. He made 18 starts already this season with a 5-7 record and a 4.44 ERA. He also recorded 117 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings.

"We went through this early in the season. He was on the IL," Cora said. "He's a big, strong kid that wants to grind through it. At this time everybody wants to grind. We appreciate that, but at the same time, we got to take care of the player first. And if we do, he's going to take care of us."