Red Sox-Reds Series Preview: Boston Pitching Staff Gets First Chance To Shine

Red Sox-Reds Series Preview: Boston Pitching Staff Gets First Chance To Shine originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s time for Opening Day!

The Boston Red Sox will kickstart their regular season schedule against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday — with full coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NESN. If you want to know what’s coming and what to expect, check out our full series preview:

RED SOX (0-0) @ REDS (0-0)

Dates: March 26, March 28, March 29
Location: Great American Ball Park
Series Record (All-Time): 22-11

THREE STORYLINES

1. ROTATION IN THE ROTATION

The Red Sox are believed to have one of the strongest rotations in baseball after bringing aboard the likes of Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Johan Oviedo to join incumbent options Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle — though that depth is being tested right away. Suarez and Bello are still building up after the World Baseball Classic, meaning we will see an earlier-than-anticipated start from Early and potentially significant bullpen innings from Ovideo.

2. WHO IS THE DH?

Boston will start the majority of its games with one really good bat on the bench, as there isn’t enough room to play Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida.

Anthony, Abreu, and Rafaela are too good not to get the majority of reps in the outfield. Duran, in turn, will begin as the primary designated hitter. Yoshida starts as the odd-man out, but eventually will see time and it is at that point in which we well find out who he replaces.

3. TRUE PLATOON?

Marcelo Mayer is the primary second baseman, but only because there are more right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will get the start on Opening Day, and likely again the next time the club faces a southpaw. Andruw Monasterio’s fit will be one to monitor.

PROBABLE PITCHERS

Thursday, March 26: LHP Garrett Crochet (2025: 2.59 ERA, 205.1 IP, 255 K) vs LHP Andrew Abbott (2025: 2.87 ERA, 166.1 IP, 149 K)
Saturday, March 28: RHP Sonny Gray (2025: 4.28 ERA, 180.2 IP, 201 K) vs RHP Brady Singer (2025: 4.03 ERA, 169.2 IP, 163 K)
Sunday, March 29: LHP Connelly Early (2025: 2.33 ERA, 19.1 IP, 29 K) vs RHP Rhett Lowder (2025: 1.17 ERA, 30.2 IP, 22 K)