Red Sox injuries open rotation spot for Newcomb

The Boston Red Sox are facing unexpected challenges with injuries to three of their starting pitchers as the season begins. This situation has opened up spots in the starting rotation, which may benefit local pitcher Sean Newcomb. Newcomb, a 31-year-old left-handed pitcher, was signed to a minor league contract by the Red Sox before spring training. He previously played for the Oakland Athletics over the last two seasons but was limited to just 25 innings due to control issues. At his best in 2019, he had a 3.16 ERA while pitching for the Atlanta Braves. Originally drafted 15th overall by the Los Angeles Angels in 2015, Newcomb hails from Brockton, Massachusetts. He played high school baseball in Middleborough, just over an hour from Fenway Park. In spring training, he has impressed with an 0.93 ERA, striking out 10 batters and walking just three in nearly 10 innings, leaving him "in the hunt" for a rotation spot. However, Newcomb faces competition from three other pitchers: Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester, and Cooper Criswell. Each has shown solid performance during spring training, making the decision on who will fill the two available spots challenging. The injured starters for the Red Sox include Brayan Bello with shoulder soreness, Kutter Crawford with a knee issue, and Lucas Giolito with a hamstring injury. While none of the injuries are deemed serious, there is no set timeline for their return to the rotation. The team's manager, Alex Cora, stated that a decision regarding the rotation will be made soon.