Red Sox Reportedly Will Be Without Three Important Pieces On Opening Day

Boston will be without a few important pitchers on Opening Day

The Boston Red Sox already have been bitten by the injury bug.

Boston had a busy offseason, to say the least, and there will be plenty of new faces with the club when the 2023 campaign rolls around. After a subpar 2022 campaign that saw the club finish in last place in the American League East, there is plenty of hope for a better finish in 2023, but Boston will be without the services of multiple important pieces to start the season. 

The Red Sox will be without pitchers Garrett Whitlock, Brayan Bello, and Joely Rodriguez on Opening Day due to various injuries.

Whitlock underwent offseason hip surgery and recently returned to the mound, but won't be ready for Boston's season-opener against the Baltimore Orioles on March 30. Bello suffered an arm injury early in spring training and also has returned to the mound, but won't be ready for Opening Day. 

Rodriguez recently suffered a Grade-2 oblique strain and is expected to begin the season on the injured list, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier. 

Red Sox are going to get imaging on Joely Rodriguez tomorrow, but Cora expects he’ll open the year on the injured list. He identified Mosqueda and Sherriff as possibilities for bullpen lefties, though said the team could also open with another long man.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) March 19, 2023

Whitlock and Bello may not be ready for Opening Day, but it won't be long until either hurler sees regular season action, according to Speier. 

"Cora said the Sox want both Brayan Bello and Whitlock to pitch in at least five games before they will be considered for the rotation," Speier said. "Both have already had two-inning outings, and Whitlock has now had a three-inning start, with games of four, five, and five innings to come. With a steady progression, Whitlock might miss as little as one turn of the rotation, while Bello might miss as little as two."

Boston dealt with a plethora of injuries in 2022 and it certainly hurt the squad. It's unfortunate that the team already has had to deal with plenty more again, but at this point they seem more precautionary -- at least in Whitlock and Bello's cases -- so Boston should be in good shape sooner rather than later. 

The Red Sox also likely will be without left-handed hurler James Paxton to start off the season, but there hasn't been much of an update on the big lefty.

Boston will begin regular season action on March 30 and all eyes certainly will be on the pitching staff. 

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