Fitts (pectoral) played catch Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Fitts sustained a pectoral strain during a start against the White Sox on April 12. He had opened the season as part of the rotation due to injuries to projected starters. Brayan Bello returned from injury and pitched Tuesday, and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) is expected back May 1. That suggests Fitts will head back to the minors after his recovery.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Dealing with mild pectoral strain
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Fitts has been diagnosed with a mild right pectoral strain, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Fitts had to be lifted from his last start Saturday versus the White Sox with the injury and was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday. While it's good news that it's been deemed a mild strain, Cora indicated there is no timetable for the right-hander's return. Fitts' next turn in the rotation comes up Friday, and with Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) not quite ready, the Red Sox will likely choose from Michael Fulmer, Cooper Criswell, Josh Winckowski or Hunter Dobbins to take the ball Friday against the White Sox.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Lands on IL with pec strain
Rotowire
The Red Sox placed Fitts on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right pectoral strain, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Fitts was removed from Saturday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox in the sixth inning when he experienced pain in his shoulder. The Red Sox haven't provided a timeline for his return, but given the nature of his injury, Fitts will likely need more than the minimum 15 days. Boston selected the contract of right-hander Michael Fulmer from Triple-A Worcester to provide some bullpen depth in the short term, but long reliever Josh Winckowski or Triple-A starters Cooper Criswell or Hunter Dobbins would appear to be the most likely candidates to fill Fitts' spot in the rotation.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Exits with injury
Rotowire
Fitts was removed from Saturday's game against the White Sox due to right shoulder pain, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Fitts had been cruising through his start Saturday, giving up just two hits and a walk while striking out five batters across five shutout frames. He came back out to start the sixth inning but only threw a couple of pitches before grabbing at his underarm/shoulder area. Fitts will return to Boston on Sunday to undergo an MRI on his shoulder to determine the severity of the injury, per Cotillo.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Takes loss in quality start
Rotowire
Fitts (0-2) allowed three runs on six hits and four walks over six innings Monday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Blue Jays.
Fitts escaped a bases-loaded threat unscathed in the first inning before Toronto plated a pair of runs in the third and another in the fifth. He wasn't very effective and had to dance around a few sticky situations. Fitts tossed 102 pitches (67 strikes) and generated 13 whiffs, including five each with his fastball and slider. He's given up exactly three runs over six frames in each of his first two starts this season but has an 0-2 record to show for it. Fitts will continue searching for his first win in his next outing, which is projected to be on the road this weekend against the White Sox.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Pushed back to Monday
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Fitts will make his next start Monday against the Blue Jays in Boston, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Fitts had been in line to make his second start of the season Saturday against the Cardinals, but that game was postponed due to inclement weather. With the Red Sox and Cardinals making up the game in a doubleheader Sunday, both teams are allotted a 27th man. The Red Sox will take advantage of the extra roster spot and have Triple-A Worcester call-up Hunter Dobbins start the second game of the twin bill while giving Fitts some extra rest. Dobbins is likely to be sent back to the minors immediately after the doubleheader while Boston returns to a five-man rotation to begin the upcoming week.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Boston-St. Louis postponed Saturday
Rotowire
Fitts and the Red Sox won't play the Cardinals as scheduled Saturday, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Saturday's game will be made up in a doubleheader Sunday, and it's likely that Fitts will take the mound in one of those two contests. The 25-year-old righty gave up three earned runs in six innings during his first start of the season March 30 in Texas, and he remains in pursuit of his first career win.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Fades late against Texas
Rotowire
Fitts (0-1) allowed three runs on six hits over six innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Rangers.
Fitts looked impressive through five innings of one-run ball. He coughed up three straight singles in the second inning but went on to retire 12 consecutive batters. However, he gave up solo homers to Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia in the sixth, his third time through the order. Fitts was efficient with just 71 pitches (53 strikes) but still took the loss during his quality start. He's projected for a home matchup against the Cardinals this weekend. Beyond that, Fitts' role is unclear with both Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) expected to begin rehab assignments this week.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Cruises through six innings
Rotowire
Fitts allowed an unearned run on three hits while striking out five over six innings in Monday's exhibition game in Mexico.
Fitts got one final spring appearance ahead of what is expected to be a spot in Boston's rotation to start the regular season. Injuries to Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) created openings, and Fitts appears to have locked down the fourth spot in the rotation. Sean Newcomb and Cooper Criswell are the finalists to open the season in the No. 5 spot. Fitts compiled a 2.45 ERA and 14:6 K:BB while allowing 13 hits over 14.2 spring innings. If all goes as planned for Bello and Giolito, Fitts' stay in the rotation will last between two and three starts.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Likely to open as fourth starter
Rotowire
Fitts is likely to open the season as the Red Sox' fourth starter, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
With Brayan Bello (shoulder), Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Kutter Crawford (knee) all expected to open the season on the injured list, the Red Sox are needing to dip into their rotation depth. Fitts has earned the opportunity by collecting a 2.45 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six walks over 14.2 spring innings. Sean Newcomb and Quinn Priester are fighting for the final spot in Boston's rotation.
Fitts allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one over four-plus innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League start against Detroit.
Fitts was on the bump for his third Grapefruit League start (fifth appearance) and experienced his first bout of adversity. His day ended after giving up a leadoff home run in the fifth inning on his 73rd pitch. Although manager Alex Cora has not yet announced which starter candidates will make up the back end of the rotation, Fitts looks primed to open the season as one of the five starters. He has a 2.45 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six walks over 14.2 spring innings. With Brayan Bello (shoulder), Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Kutter Crawford (knee) all expected to open the regular season on the injured list, Fitts could get a few turns in April.
Fitts allowed one hit and struck out four over 4.1 scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against Miami.
After a couple of Grapefruit League appearances as a reliever, Fitts' last two appearances were as a starter. It's become apparent that Fitts will be part of the rotation to start the regular season, as several projected rotation members are expected to open the season on the injured list. The right-handed Fitts has a 0.84 ERA over 10.2 spring innings.
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