BOSTON — The Red Sox pitching rotation will have a new look this weekend in Chicago.
Eduardo Rodriguez (right ankle sprain) is scheduled to come off the disabled list and start Saturday's game against the White Sox. The left-hander is the first of several reinforcements who are likely to arrive after rosters expand to 40 players on Sept. 1.
Rodriguez made his second rehab start Monday at Double-A Portland, throwing 76 pitches. He has struck out 14, walked four and allowed three hits in two outings with the Sea Dogs and is on track to make his first big league appearance since mid-July.
"He was OK yesterday," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "He only went four [innings]. I watched the game — there were some good at-bats against him, but I think where he's at physically and with the repetitions we're comfortable with him."
Hector Velazquez will shift to the bullpen, and he was available in relief on Tuesday. That gives Boston a second stretched out option along with Drew Pomeranz. Chris Sale (left shoulder inflammation) was scheduled to play catch on flat ground for the second straight day on Tuesday, and he would fill the starting spot currently held by Brian Johnson.
"Like I said before, there's no day that we're shooting for," Cora said. "When he's ready to pitch, he'll pitch. Yesterday was a good start. Today he'll go out again and do it, and we'll see what he's going to do tomorrow."
Cora said he was confident Sale will return at some point in September. Rodriguez had a 19-inning scoreless string at the time of his injury and Sale had allowed just one earned run in seven starts from June 24 to Aug. 12 for a microscopic 0.20 earned-run average over 44 innings.
"Getting Hector back in the bullpen, having Drew in the bullpen — it's going to help us as far as how to manage the game if something happens early in the game," Cora said. "We've been comfortable with that the whole season. We've been short, I think, the last two weeks since Chris went on the DL."
Pedro helping out
Arguably the greatest Red Sox pitcher in at least two generations was on the field early Tuesday afternoon.
Pedro Martinez was an interested observer while Rodriguez threw on flat ground and Nathan Eovaldi tossed his normal side session. Martinez spent time with Eovaldi, discussing the right-hander's shoulder plane, hip rotation and landing point during his delivery. Eovaldi was brilliant in his first two starts with Boston but has allowed 35 hits in 17 innings in his last four starts.
"[Martinez] called me a few days ago and said he noticed something on Nate and he wanted to help out," Cora said. "He did it in spring training with all the guys."
Cora said former teammates David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and Tim Wakefield are also among those who have been in regular contact throughout his debut season as manager. Jason Varitek is on the Red Sox staff as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
"They know what's going on and how special this group is," Cora said. "Whatever they can do from afar to help this team out or to show up here and help this team out, it's great."
Vazquez close to returning
Rodriguez threw to Christian Vazquez (fractured right pinkie) on Monday, and the catcher was back behind the plate for Steven Wright (left knee inflammation) at Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday.
Vazquez will serve as the designated hitter for the PawSox on Wednesday, catch again on Thursday and could rejoin Boston this weekend in Chicago. How Vazquez will be used remains to be seen, with Sandy Leon emerging as the favorite receiver for David Price and Rick Porcello, and Blake Swihart solidifying himself as the second option following Vazquez's injury in late July.
"We'll play it day by day, honestly, when he comes back," Cora said. "And I'll sit down with the three of them.
"They understand it's a little bit different than early in the season. Blake is not only swinging the bat well, but he's playing good defense. When the time comes we'll sit down, we'll talk to them and we'll go from there."
— bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
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