Boston Red Sox: Opening Day Roster Prediction
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Opening Day is now less than a week away. The Boston Red Sox will soon wrap up their 2015 spring training stint and depart Fort Myers for an inaugural three-game series with the Philadelphia Philliies.
On Monday, April 6, another season of Red Sox baseball will commence. With that said, manager John Farrell and his staff have just a few days to make a decision on who will crack the club’s 25-man roster.
Boston will be without catcher Christian Vazquez for the season due to Tommy John surgery. Koji Uehara says he “expects” to begin the season on the disabled listed due to a nagging hamstring injury. The team also has a plethora of starting outfield candidates.
There are many routes Farrell can take when assembling his roster, but here’s how I see Boston’s Opening Day roster shaking out.
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Catchers
Ryan Hanigan starts the season as the starter. The newly-acquired Sandy Leon backs him up. Blake Swihart is obviously starting the season in Pawtucket, but will likely get a call-up when the team sees fit later in the year.
Infielders
Mike Napoli starts at first base, Dustin Pedroia starts at second base, Xander Bogaerts starts at shortstop and Pablo Sandoval starts at third base. Brock Holt serves as the team’s utility man. Allen Craig rounds out the infield grouping.
Outfielders
Hanley Ramirez starts in left, Mookie Betts starts in center and Shane Victorino starts in right. Daniel Nava gets the nod as the club’s fourth outfielder. Rusney Castillo and Jackie Bradley Jr. start the season in Pawtucket, but will see time in Boston at some point and probably sooner rather than later.
*Farrell says Victorino is the man in right, rather than Castillo or Bradley, due to what he’s provided the club in the past.
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Designated Hitter
Starting Pitchers
Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Wade Miley, Justin Masterson, Joe Kelly
*Buchholz is set to start on Opening Day.
Bullpen
Edward Mujica, Craig Breslow, Alexi Ogando, Robbie Ross, Tommy Layne, Brandon Workman, Matt Barnes, Junichi Tazawa
*Farrell says Mujica will close until Uehara returns.