Red Sox Opening Day roster coming into focus

ARLINGTON -- Manager Alex Cora isn’t making promises, but the Opening Day roster is coming into focus.

The team optioned left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, a roster move that Cora called “the hardest one.”

“You have to live with it,” Cora said. “He’s part of the organization, part of club, we know that. He’s not going to be there in Seattle, but without guarantees, I do believe Bernie is going to contribute here and be a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Bernardino allowed one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings over seven appearances this spring. Despite those numbers and as difficult as the decision was on Cora and the organization, the Red Sox now have a clearer picture of what their Opening Day roster could look like.

Cora would not definitively confirm the following players made the team, but signs point toward the bullpen including right-handers Isaiah Campbell, Greg Weissert and Justin Slaten. The platoon at second base is expected to be the left-handed hitting Enmanuel Valdez and the right-handed hitting Pablo Reyes. And Bobby Dalbec appears to have earned one of the final roster spots too.

“Where we’re at right now, without making promises, yes,” Cora said.

Indications are also positive regarding late-inning relievers Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin being ready to go. Jansen and Martin both threw one scoreless inning on Sunday, and are expected to pitch in Tuesday’s exhibition game vs. the Rangers. If that goes well, both should be ready for Opening Day, Cora said.

In the end, though, Cora did not want to make guarantees as rosters are always subject to change in the days leading into a season.

“You make no promises,” Cora said. “You tell guys, ‘Hey, there’s a good chance you’ll be in Seattle,’ but understanding that things might change in the next 24 hours. That’s how you do business.”

Valdez shines
Valdez finished with a game-high three hits, including a solo home run off Rangers reliever Josh Sborz, in the eighth inning during Monday’s 9-2 exhibition win. Valdez turned on a 1-2 fastball, sending it into the right-center field seats.

“Valdy today, just kind of getting into who he is,” Cora said. “Hit the ball hard, put together at-bats.”

Whitlock ready
Right-hander Garrett Whitlock turned in a promising performance Monday going into the regular season, allowing one unearned run on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts over six innings against the defending World Series champions.

Cora said Whitlock looked like a starter on the mound, mixing his pitches and keeping the Rangers’ potent offense off balance.

Whitlock credited his success to a few different factors, including his mindset.

“I’ve started to really learn what I want each pitch to accomplish,” he said. “It's knowing what you’re trying to accomplish with each pitch, not just throwing a pitch to execute a pitch, which is how I pitched in the past. So, I feel like it’s helped me take that next step.”