After another short outing from a starting pitcher and more reliever injuries, the Boston Red Sox have shuffled their pitching staff before the second game of their series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Boston has optioned starter Richard Fitts to Triple-A Worcester after his one-inning outing on June 2. The righty spent over a month on the injured list with a pectoral strain, and the Red Sox rushed him back into the rotation without a rehab assignment out of desperation.
Fitts' first start back wasn't bad. The 24-year-old on May 27 posted three scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and since it was his first start back from the IL, a short outing was to be expected. The following week, he only posted one inning and let up five earned runs to the Angels.
Hunter Dobbins entered the game after Fitts and logged five one-run innings to allow Boston to mount an ultimately unsuccessful comeback. Dobbins will step into the rotation in Fitts' stead as the latter pitcher stretches out in Triple-A. Dobbins has clocked a 4.06 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 10 walks in 44.1 innings. He's been a reliable depth starter amid the Sox's many pitcher injuries.
Red Sox option Richard Fitts to Triple-A, move Nick Burdi to the injured list
The Red Sox will also place reliever Nick Burdi on the IL after he sustained a foot contusion during a play at first base on June 2. Burdi signed a minor league deal with the Sox over the offseason and has been called up twice as a depth relief option. He's posted a 0.48 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 18.2 innings with the WooSox this year, and a zero ERA with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings in the big leagues.
Cooper Criswell and Zack Kelly are back with the big league team to fill out the bullpen after Fitts and Burdi's moves. Criswell has surrendered five earned runs over 4.1 innings across three appearances in the big leagues this season. Kelly has pitched to an 8.25 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 12 innings with the Red Sox in 2025.