TORONTO — Walker Buehler won’t make his scheduled start Friday because of shoulder discomfort that resulted in the righthander being dispatched to Boston Thursday for tests.
According to manager Alex Cora, Buehler “hasn’t bounced back the way we wanted” since his most recent start Saturday at Cleveland — a six-inning, three-run effort that left him with a 2.59 ERA over his last four starts. Cora said Buehler is “working through some things” with his shoulder.
While there might have been circumstances when the Red Sox would have pushed Buehler to the mound, the team took a more measured approach to handling him five weeks into the season.
“The ability to bounce back is huge. There’s a difference between quality work between starts and then just posting,” explained pitching coach Andrew Bailey. “There’ll be a point in time where we’ve just got to post, get to the starting gate, but the ability to bounce back, the ability to be the best version of yourself every fifth, sixth, seventh day is really important, [as is] making sure that we don’t miss a whole chunk of the season.”
Buehler won’t pitch during the weekend series at Fenway Park against the Twins. Brayan Bello will start Friday and Garrett Crochet will take the mound Sunday, while Saturday’s starter has yet to be determined.
At this point, the Red Sox are still determining whether Buehler will be able to return to the mound next week or if he’ll need a stint on the injured list. If he does not land on the IL, and if the team’s relievers aren’t unduly taxed Friday, the Sox could employ either a bullpen game or have Sean Newcomb start Saturday while avoiding a roster move.
“It’s May 1. We want all of our guys to make 25 to 33 starts in the regular season and [will take] care of them when we need to,” said Bailey. “Making adjustments to the rotation, giving extra days when we need to, just having the collective whole in mind is really valuable for us. … Any time you need to give extra days [between starts], or a guy’s not bouncing back as well, it [stinks] in the moment, but in the totality of the season, we need him long term.”
No to Anthony at 1B
With widespread anticipation for the big league arrival of Roman Anthony, some have wondered whether the 20-year-old outfielder should see time at first base — a position where the Red Sox are thin — in order to open an additional pathway to the big leagues.
It’s not going to happen.
Why not? After all, future Gold Glove outfielder Cody Bellinger won National League Rookie of the Year honors as a 21-year-old in 2017 while spending the majority of his playing time at first base. So why aren’t the Red Sox contemplating a similar strategy for Anthony?
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow offered his view.
“I think just given [Anthony’s] age, there’s still an opportunity for him to develop in the outfield. Until you feel like that’s in a place where there isn’t just a massive opportunity cost to taking reps away, that’s where he should be focused,” said Breslow. “And also, I think obviously, at some point he’s going to be impacting our major league team, and to throw another variable into the mix probably doesn’t make a ton of sense when that transition in and of itself can be difficult at times.
“So, try to simplify, try to keep him where he’s comfortable. And if that’s a conversation we need to have 10 years from now, then great.”
Campbell out of lineup
Kristian Campbell, who was slated to start in center field Thursday against the Blue Jays with David Hamilton in the lineup at second base, was a late scratch before the 4-2 loss because of discomfort in his right ribs. Cora said the rookie felt discomfort while stretching, so the team elected to give him the night off. Campbell is considered day-to-day … Catcher Connor Wong (broken left little finger) appeared in a third rehab game for Triple A Worcester, walking and homering in his first two plate appearances. It’s possible he’ll be activated off the IL this weekend.
Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him @alexspeier.
