Red Sox Pitching Depth: Crawford, Sandoval's Returns

It's March 29th, you're listening to MLB News Today, AI-powered MLB coverage.

The Boston Red Sox pitching staff is stacked right now with six solid starters on the

act of roster, and things are about to get even deeper.

Cutter Crawford and Patrick Sandevol are both lining up for big steps toward their returns

after missing time since last year.

On Monday, those two will each throw four innings in a simulated game down at the team's

spring training spot in Fort Myers, Florida.

Manager Alex Cora laid that out after Sunday's action, signaling they're close to rejoining

the mix.

Fans and front office folks are buzzing, because Sandevol's contract means he can't

get sent to the minors, while Crawford still has that option.

Boston has to figure out if either slides into long relief up top, or stays stretched

out as starters in the lower levels.

Pitching depth and baseball can vanish fast with injuries, so these guys could be key

for big innings or even spot starts sooner than expected.

Right now, roles are murky, piling pressure on Cora and chief baseball officer Craig

Breslow.

That depth dilemma sets up some real chess moves for the Red Sox, as they navigate this

stacked but unpredictable roster.