ST. PETERSBURG -- Due to an off-day on Thursday, Red Sox manager John Farrell could have waited until Tuesday to deploy a fifth starter on the heels of Eduardo Rodriguez getting optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket earlier this week.
Instead, Farrell will insert his fifth starter on Sunday so the other starters can get an extra day of rest. However, the Red Sox aren't ready to say who that starter will be.
Lefty Roenis Elias is pitching on Wednesday for Pawtucket, all but eliminating him from consideration. Henry Owens, once deemed one of the organization's top pitching prospects, remains plagued by control problems.