Capsules of American League East teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Boston Red Sox2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Manager: Alex Cora (first season).He's Here: DH J.D. Martinez.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad.Projected Lineup: RF Mookie Betts (.264, 24 HRs, 102 RBIs), LF Andrew Benintendi (.271, 20, 90), 1B Hanley Ramirez (.242, 23, 62) or Mitch Moreland (.246, 22, 79), DH J.D. Martinez (.303, 45, 104 with Tigers and Diamondbacks), 3B Rafael Devers (.284, 10, 30 in 58 games), SS Xander Bogaerts (.273, 10, 62), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.245, 17, 63), C Christian Vazquez (.290, 5, 32) or Sandy Leon (.225, 7, 39), 2B Eduardo Nunez (.313, 12, 58, 24 SBs with Giants and Red Sox) or Dustin Pedroia (.293, 7, 62, .369 OBP in 105 games, expected to be out until late May following knee surgery).Rotation: LH Chris Sale (17-8, 2.90 ERA, MLB-best 308 Ks, MLB-high 214... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The idea of beginning a season with four regular pitchers unavailable could be anywhere from daunting to devastating for many teams.But that is what the Boston Red Sox could be facing.The Red Sox have four pitchers who might be out for opening day. Three potential starters — left-handers Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez and knuckleballer Steven Wright — could start the season on the disabled list for the AL East champions.Closer Craig Kimbrel has been in Boston since Feb. 28, when 4-month-old daughter Lydia, who was born with heart ailments, underwent her second surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.Kimbrel has been working out in the Boston area but has not been able to pitch to hitters, and there's no timetable for his return.New manager Alex Cora and the organization have been completely supportive of Kimbrel staying with his family. But with opening day little more than two weeks away, they might have to get creative."We've got a few things set up for... [More]

LHP Brian Johnson, who started and pitched six innings of three-run ball Tuesday night against Toronto, was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday. Johnson is 2-0 with a 4.33 ERA in five starts for Boston this year.

LHP Brian Johnson, activated from the disabled list to make Tuesday night's start, his fifth in the major leagues this season, turned in a quality start of six innings and three runs in a no-decision. He beat Toronto at Rogers Centre in April but pitched better than that Tuesday. He is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in three career starts at Fenway Park.

LHP Brian Johnson, who has been out with left shoulder impingement, was in Boston on Monday night and will start Tuesday night's game. A roster move will have to be made for Johnson before the game. He is 2-0 in four starts with the Red Sox this season, defeating Toronto on April 18 at Rogers Centre despite allowing four runs and seven hits, including two home runs.

LHP Brian Johnson (shoulder impingement) was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Johnson, who was 2-0 with a 4.29 ERA in four starts this season with Boston, went on the DL on May 15.

LHP Brian Johnson (left shoulder impingement) made a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket, allowing three runs -- all in the first inning -- and five hits in 3 2/3 innings. He threw 75 pitches, 51 for strikes.

LHP Brian Johnson (left shoulder impingement) allowed two hits, two walks and two runs (one earned) while striking out four in 2 2/3 innings in his first rehabilitation start Friday with short-season A Lowell. He has been on the disabled list since June 15.

LHP Brian Johnson was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a left shoulder impingement. RHP Austin Maddox was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket in the wake of the injury to Johnson, who exited Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies after 2 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old Johnson, who owns a 2-0 mark with a 4.29 ERA this season, allowed three earned runs on four hits versus the Phillies.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Brian Johnson was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a left shoulder impingement. Right-hander Austin Maddox was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket in the wake of the injury to Johnson, who exited Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies after 2 2/3 innings.The 26-year-old Johnson, who owns a 2-0 mark with a 4.29 ERA this season, allowed three earned runs on four hits versus the Phillies."He felt some increasing stiffness and the inability to get loose with each successive inning (Wednesday) until in the third inning he had to come out," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Hopefully, we caught it early enough, so it isn't a severe situation."Maddox will make his first career appearance on a major league roster. The 26-year-old has posted a 1-1 record with three saves and a 1.33 ERA in 18 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket this season.Also on Thursday, the Red Sox transferred left-hander Roenis Elias to the 60-day disabled list. The 28-year-old began the season on the 10-day disabled list with a right oblique strain before making one rehab start for High-A Salem on May 7.

LHP Brian Johnson cruised early in his Wednesday night start against the Phillies, needing only 23 pitches to get through two innings, but he didn't make it out of the third. Johnson, making his fourth major league start of the season, gave up three runs, including a two-run homer by Aaron Altherr, on four hits before departing with "left shoulder discomfort" with two outs in the inning. "He felt some increasing stiffness and the inability to get loose with each successive inning here tonight until in the third inning he had to come out. Hopefully we caught it early enough so it isn't a severe situation."

LHP Brian Johnson makes his fourth major league start this season when the four-game "series" with the Phillies shifts to Philadelphia Wednesday night. Johnson's first three 2017 starts came after he was recalled from Triple-A but he has stayed with the big club since his last outing. He is 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA in his three major league starts this season.

LHP Brian Johnson, recalled Friday from Pawtucket for the third time this season, made his third start with the big club Friday night, lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed three runs and eight hits. Two of the hits were home runs. He was taken off the hook with his team's three-run eighth-inning rally. "That's a tough matchup for him against a tough lineup, nine right-handed hitters," manager John Farrell said. "He had to pitch in and out of some traffic on the base paths. They run up a pitch count on him but still, to keep us in the game, keep them in check for the time he was on the mound, a solid job."

RHP Brian Johnson was named as the starter for Friday's series opener against Detroit when the Red Sox needed a starter. Johnson tweaked his hamstring in his last start with Triple-A Pawtucket but felt good in his bullpen session Tuesday. Johnson last pitched May 27 when he threw a complete game against the Seattle Mariners. "If he keeps throwing shutouts it'll be great. Brian comes to us with a little momentum and confidence after the game against Seattle," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

LHP Brian Johnson, who exited his last start with Triple-A Pawtucket in the second inning because of a calf injury, threw 33 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday. Manager John Farrell said the reports he received from Pawtucket were that Johnson felt good and there was no restriction. Johnson threw a complete game against the Seattle Mariners on May 27 and could still make a start for the Red Sox on Friday in Detroit when the rotation has a vacancy.

LHP Brian Johnson had to leave his start Saturday for Triple-A Pawtucket with a hamstring injury. Johnson was a candidate to take a spot on the Red Sox rotation for the injured Eduardo Rodriguez (right knee). "I know he was going in for some exams this morning," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He felt better than maybe he anticipated. We'll see how he comes through the exam any any type of prescribed treatment or throwing program that will take place following." Johnson is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts for Boston this season. He is also 2-0 with a 2.72 ERA for Pawtucket.

LHP Brian Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday after pitching a complete game shutout Saturday against the Mariners. Johnson permitted five hits and struck out eight while improving to 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA.

LHP Brian Johnson, recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to make his second start of the season Saturday for the Red Sox, pitched a five-hit shutout, walking none and striking out eight -- and was then optioned back to Pawtucket. "It's part of it. You come up and make the most of your opportunity," he said. He pitched Boston's first complete game of the season, the team's first shutout since Steven Wright last Aug. 5 and Boston's first at Fenway Park since Rich Hill on Sept. 25, 2015. He also became the first Red Sox pitcher to throw a shutout in his Fenway debut since Pedro Martinez on April 11, 1998, later saying, "To even be mentioned with his name is incredible.

LHP Brian Johnson has been recalled from Pawtucket for the second time this season and starts against the Seattle Mariners in the second game of the series at Fenway Park Saturday. He picked up his first major league win back on April 18, allowing four runs in five innings against the Toronto Blue Jays and returns off four straight quality starts. "We've seen a gradual increase in stuff overall," manager John Farrell said Friday. "There's been better crispness, there's been consistent strike throwing, there's been the ability to put guys away with the breaking ball -- a slight uptick in velocity."

LHP Brian Johnson, who won a spot start for Boston the last time he was called up, is likely to pitch against the Seattle Mariners Saturday at Fenway Park. Johnson worked five innings, allowing seven hits, including two home runs, and four runs in five innings for his first major league win.