3 Red Sox who won't be on the roster by May 1

2) Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford will not be on the roster by May 1

Red Sox pitching has given fans the most grief through the first nine games of the season. One guy who has pitched poorly and can be optioned to the minors is Kutter Crawford. He is 1-1 with an 8.00 ERA after two starts. With remaining minor league options, it already appears that he’ll be either moved to the bullpen or to the minors when Garrett Whitlock is active from the IL.

Whitlock returning to the Red Sox will be a welcomed addition with the state of this pitching staff. Corey Kluber has lost both of his starts and has managed to log just 8.1 innings in them. Chris Sale has been an even greater mess. Despite the 1-0 record, he continues to carry with him an 11.25 ERA. At least he’s healthy? Maybe not so much if this is the kind of performance he’ll offer.

Crawford will remain an important part of the Red Sox equation this year as a sixth starter of sorts. They used him in the rotation and out of the bullpen last season when he was 3-6 with a 5.47 ERA. Keeping him lengthened to give them some innings as a starter should be the plan for Boston this year.

From the start, Crawford seemed to be fighting a losing battle to stay on the roster. He has pitched himself out of even being a bullpen contender. He’s a sixth starter who could be gone and back again by the time we get to May considering the questionable health of his teammates.