Red Sox pitchers impress in audition for No. 5 starter role

The battle for the No. 5 spot in the Red Sox rotation is a tight race

The fifth spot in the Boston Red Sox rotation is up for grabs and both candidates made a compelling case during Sunday’s exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins.

Garrett Whitlock started the game, tossing three scoreless innings. Carlos Correa slapped a single to shallow left field for the only hit allowed by Whitlock, who also walked a batter and struck out a pair. The right-hander threw 95 mph fastballs up in the zone to send the batters down swinging to record both of his strikeouts.

Rich Hill entered to begin the fifth inning, matching his primary competitor with three scoreless frames of his own. Hill also allowed only one hit while striking out three without issuing a walk.

Both pitchers have tossed five innings without allowing a run while tallying five strikeouts through their first two spring appearances. Whitlock’s command has been a bit more shaky with three walks compared to only one for Hill. Otherwise, their production is nearly identical. If the Red Sox are making their decision based on performance in spring training, these pitchers are locked in a tight race.

Results from exhibition games aren’t as important as how the pitchers fit in their respective roles though. Whitlock was dominant out of the Red Sox bullpen last year, proving himself capable of handling multiple innings and high-leverage situations. His versatility provides the team with a valuable bullpen weapon that would be difficult to replace if he joins the rotation.

Hill could fill the void in the bullpen but it’s a role he’s rarely been utilized in since 2014 when he last served primarily as a reliever. Hill has been a dependable starter since the Red Sox gave him a brief opportunity to return to the rotation at the end of the 2015 season. We know he can be a reliable option at the back of the rotation and we saw what Whitlock was capable of as a lights-out reliever last year. Assuming they can swap roles while remaining as effective is an unnecessary risk.

The Red Sox have paired these pitchers together to work on the same day so far this spring and the expectation is that will continue into the regular season, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. Whichever pitcher gets the start, the other will be ready to back up his teammate in relief. Manager Alex Cora seems to like the contrast between Whitlock, a hard-throwing right-hander, and Hill, a soft-tossing lefty. The adjustment from facing Whitlock’s mid-90s fastball and biting slider to Hill, a master of changing speeds with a deeper pitch arsenal, will keep opposing lineups off balance regardless of which order they face them.

Neither pitcher should be expected to go deep into games. Whitlock hasn’t started a regular season game since 2019 when he was with the Yankees Double-A affiliate. He was often used for multiple innings last season but only tossed 3+ innings in an outing twice. Hill has more experience starting but he lasted fewer than six innings in 23 of his 32 appearances last year. The Red Sox have no intention of using either as an opener, but they can aim for five innings from whichever of them starts while the other can follow with at least an inning or two.

The solution for the final rotation spot might only be temporary. Chris Sale could return from a rib injury in May, at which point Whitlock and Hill could both end up in the bullpen. Or if that fifth starter is thriving, any struggling member of the rotation could be bumped to the bullpen when Sale returns. The eventual return of James Paxton will give Boston another option to consider for the rotation.

Nathan Eovaldi will get the nod on Opening Day but he’ll be followed by a rotation filled with questions pertaining to health, age or the lack of a track record. The uncertainty appears to be a weakness but their enviable depth is a strength. Not all of their pitchers are going to pan out but the Red Sox have enough arms with enticing upside to patch together innings until their pitching staff gets healthier.

If the fifth starter is performing to the ability we know Whitlock and Hill are capable of, the rotation won’t be much of a concern after all.