The Boston Red Sox made a surprise activation ahead of the second game of their series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Richard Fitts has joined Boston in the Midwest and will start on May 27, according to Jahmai Webster of NESN. Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced after yesterday's game that Fitts could be an option to start the second game, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, and his appearance against the Brewers will be his first in over a month.
The rookie had been on the 15-day injured list with a pectoral strain since April 13. He was scheduled to make his second rehab start today, but the Red Sox brought him back to the big leagues instead. Zack Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on May 26 and Sean Newcomb was traded to the A's hours before the game, so the Sox have a roster spot open for Fitts' return. The righty posted three scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his May 22 rehab appearance with Double-A Portland.
Fitts joins Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello and Hunter Dobbins as available starters for Boston. Tanner Houck has been on the 15-day IL since his disastrous, 11-run start on May 12 (the Red Sox aren't missing much with his 8.04 ERA on the shelf). Fitts represents the return of a critical depth arm — either he'll return to the rotation and Dobbins will become the depth choice, or vice versa.
Red Sox reportedly will activate Richard Fitts from 15-day IL for May 27 start against Brewers
Fitts has posted a 3.18 ERA with 13 strikeouts and five walks in 17 innings. He doesn't strike batters out at a high clip, but his 95th-percentile chase rate keeps just enough pressure on batters to leave them flustered.
Fitts returns to the lineup at a critical point for Boston. Its bats have wasted two consecutive quality starts from pitchers, one from Crochet and one from Giolito, and Fitts may need a lift from the offense in his second in-game appearance in over a month. He'll likely be on a relatively low pitch count, which isn't ideal for the Sox's beleaguered bullpen, but it will be nice to have another depth starter back in action.