Boston Red Sox Insider Discusses Red Sox Use of Six-Man Rotation

Boston Red Sox Insider Rob Bradford appeared on the Red Sox television pregame show on Wednesday and discussed the team's plans moving forward with regards to the starting rotation.

The Boston Red Sox will welcome back starting pitcher James Paxton on Friday. He'll make his first start since 2021 when the Red Sox host the St. Louis Cardinals.

With his return, the Red Sox are left with six starters and are opting to go with the six-man rotation, at least initially.

The team is poised to go at least one trip through the rotation with Paxton, Chris Sale, Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Corey Kluber.

But how long will they keep using a six-man rotation? Red Sox Insider Rob Bradford appeared on the Red Sox television pregame show on NESN to discuss that.

You can see his full comments below but here's a partial transcript:

"I think it's one of these things, where they are just sort of covering their bases.... you have to sift through this a little bit to figure out if there's any injuries, if there's any downturns, anything like that and then you make a decision when you have to make a decision..."

With the return of James Paxton the Red Sox will be working with a 6-man rotation, but for how long? And who could be the odd man out? Rob Bradford explains. @bradfo | @adampellerin | #RedSox pic.twitter.com/RYZnyAuohb

— NESN (@NESN) May 10, 2023

Sox manager Alex Cora is not a fan of a six-man rotation so it's hard to see this lasting too long. While the benefit of the plan is that it gives older and injury-prone pitchers like Sale, Kluber and Paxton more time to rest, it also puts more of a stress on the bullpen.

The Red Sox have off days coming up on each of the following next two Thursday's, so the bullpen will have time to rest in this stretch.

At the time of this posting, the Red Sox and Braves are tied 0-0 in the top of the third inning.

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