Bernardino Shines as Red Sox Opener, Rotation Shuffle Continues

The Boston Red Sox continued to get creative with their pitching staff on Thursday, tabbing left-hander Brennan Bernardino as their opener against the Cleveland Guardians. It was a familiar role for the 27-year-old reliever, who thrived in six opening assignments last season.

As the Red Sox juggled their rotation amid injuries to starters Nick Pivetta and Garrett Whitlock, Bernardino took the hill first before handing off to bulk reliever Cooper Criswell. The versatile southpaw has proven to be a valuable weapon out of the bullpen, with a 1.69 ERA over 5.1 innings pitched this year.

Bernardino’s success as an opener in 2023 was a bright spot for a Red Sox team hampered by pitching woes. In nine innings across six opening stints, he surrendered a mere two earned runs while racking up 14 strikeouts. The Sox went 3-3 in those games, with Bernardino often setting the table for Pivetta, who is currently sidelined with a mild flexor strain.

With Whitlock also hitting the injured list on Wednesday due to an oblique strain, Boston’s rotation has been forced into a makeshift revamp. The two open slots created opportunities for Criswell and long reliever Chase Anderson to make starts, while prospects like Japanese import Naoyuki Uwasawa and journeyman Jason Alexander could also get the nod from Triple-A.

The shuffling of arms underscores the Red Sox’s pitching depth issues and their increasing reliance on creative solutions like the opener strategy. While Bernardino has proven his worth in that role, the team will be desperate for Pivetta, Whitlock, and others to return to full health as they navigate a challenging stretch of the schedule.

For now, the left-handed Bernardino remains a dependable option to set the tone and neutralize tough lefty bats at the top of opponents’ lineups. His continued success could prove pivotal as the Red Sox scramble to piece together a competitive rotation amid a flurry of injuries and uncertainty on the mound.