BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is scheduled to make another rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket this weekend, but that plan is not set in stone.
Manager John Farrell said Wednesday that there’s a chance Rodriguez -- who had the best of his five rehab appearances Tuesday in Pawtucket -- could make his next start in the majors at some point next week.
“I don’t know that we’re there to say where definitively it’s going to be next,” Farrell said. “Over the coming days, we’ll certainly map that out with Eduardo first. If it’s back here, it won’t be until early next week. We’re still working on some things first.”
Rodriguez allowed one run and four hits in seven innings against Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. He struck out seven with zero walks.
After Steven Wright and Clay Buchholz start Wednesday and Thursday to finish Boston’s home series with the Colorado Rockies, the club will throw Joe Kelly, Rick Porcello and David Price -- in that order -- over the weekend in Toronto. The Sox then have four straight in Baltimore before they host the Blue Jays the first weekend in June as part of a stretch of 13 games in 13 days in which they could toss in an extra starter to give everyone an additional day of rest.
Buchholz, with his 5.92 ERA, remains on the hot seat and could use a solid outing against the Rockies to solidify his spot in the rotation going forward, if in fact the team wants to make a change when Rodriguez is ready.
In other injury-related news:
Infielder/outfielder Brock Holt has completed a battery of concussion tests in Pittsburgh and will soon rejoin the Sox, but he is still several days away from returning. “He’ll begin some general conditioning tomorrow when he gets back to us,” Farrell said. “He’s still dealing with some symptoms, minor as they might be. In the coming days, baseball activity will start at that point. We’re going to miss him for a little bit. He’s going to need some time to get back to game speed for us.”
Holt is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion DL this week, but Farrell assured reporters that he will remain on the list for the time being.
Travis Shaw is back in the starting lineup at third base a day after hand soreness put him on the bench for Tuesday’s 8-3 victory over the Rockies. Shaw stepped in for first baseman Hanley Ramirez after the latter was hit in the toe by a pitch. Shaw told Farrell he has no further issues with the hand. As for Ramirez, he received treatment on the toe Wednesday and has no restrictions, Farrell said.
Right-hander Carson Smith, who underwent Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, will be back with the team Thursday, as he begins his road to recovery. “The very early stages are extremely minimal, with a long and lengthy and intense rehab and protocol that awaits him,” Farrell said of Smith, who appeared in three games out of the bullpen this season.