Red Sox promote Massachusetts native to potential starting role

The Boston Red Sox made a roster decision on Sunday that may help a Massachusetts native join the Opening Day rotation. The team sent pitcher Quinn Priester to the minors, leaving lefty Sean Newcomb as a leading candidate for the fifth starter spot. Newcomb, who is from Brockton and graduated from Middleborough High, wasn't expected to compete for a major league spot at the start of spring training. He joined the team on a minor league contract in January. However, he has impressed with a strong performance in the Grapefruit League, posting a 0.63 ERA over 14.1 innings. In his five appearances, he has allowed only one earned run and has a 13-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Priester had a less impressive spring with a 4.82 ERA over 9.1 innings and is likely to start the season in Triple-A Worcester. With a few other pitchers sidelined by injuries, Newcomb has emerged as a solid option for the Red Sox. The team will start Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Walker Buehler, and Richard Fitts in a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. No starter has yet been named for their opener against the Baltimore Orioles on March 31. Newcomb is scheduled to pitch five innings in a minor league game on Tuesday but will not travel with the team for their exhibition series in Mexico. He expressed that his main goal is to help the team in any way possible, whether as a starter or in another capacity.