The last time Chris Archer pitched out of the bullpen was in the 2013 American League Division Series. He's only done so twice in the regular season, with both outings coming as a rookie in September 2012.

But Archer could be entering games after an opener at times this season, which is a big reason why he followed starter Rich Hill to the mound on Friday afternoon. Archer struck out two and didn't allow a baserunner as he pitched the fourth and fifth innings of the Rays' 11-7 loss to the Red Sox at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla.

Archer is preparing to be a starter, part of a five-man rotation expected to include Tyler Glasnow, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Wacha, Hill and himself. But some of those veterans might shuffle between appearances as traditional starters and bulk-innings pitchers. They're getting a taste of what that might be like in Spring Training.

"I think predominantly I will be starting games. I think, from a workload standpoint and a strategic standpoint, there are going to be times where I might follow somebody," Archer said. "And look, not playing baseball for a long time, really, it humbled me. I've put my ego to the side and I'm more open-minded. It also helps that the guys that we'll be bringing in are really, really talented."

The Rays have mostly used younger pitchers after openers, like lefty Ryan Yarbrough at the start of his career and Josh Fleming last season. Doing so with more established starters like Wacha, Hill and Archer, manager Kevin Cash said, requires a little extra communication and preparation. For instance, Archer learned that he'll need to give himself more time to prepare in the bullpen than he did on Friday.

"Whatever we have to do to get that trophy at the end of the year, that's it," said Hill, who threw 58 pitches and allowed three runs over 2 2/3 innings. "Really, the main focus is winning each and every game and doing the best we can in each and every game and winning series. However that looks for me to be a piece of this team and help the team win at the end of the day, that's why I'm here."

One additional benefit of acquiring high-caliber teammates to fill out their rotation, it seems, is that they're all willing to do something new and different in the interest of winning games.

"They all seem to be on board with whatever is needed, whatever is asked, which is a good thing for us," Cash said.

Kiermaier: 'Best I've felt in spring in a long time'
Kevin Kiermaier eased into game action at the start of Spring Training due to tightness in his hips. He sat out a few days earlier this week due to a tight quad muscle. And he'll miss a few days late next week to be with his wife, Marisa, for the birth of their second child.

Kiermaier doesn't feel like he's skipped a beat offensively this spring, though. The center fielder took a bunch of at-bats in back-field games earlier this month, expects to return for the Rays' final Grapefruit League games and said he feels both comfortable and confident at the plate.

"This is the best I've felt in spring in a long time, as far as at-bats go, and I feel ready," Kiermaier said. "Learning as I try not to do too much, I can be a really good player, and that's what I'm going to work toward and just try to be more consistent."

Game notes
• Most of the Rays' regulars had a strong day at the plate. Mike Zunino launched a homer to center. Yandy Díaz went deep to right field. Willy Adames and Joey Wendle hit back-to-back triples to begin the second inning. And Yoshi Tsutsugo showed some encouraging signs by picking up two hits, a double to left and a single to center, against hard-throwing Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi.

Tsutsugo had a .283 wOBA against fastballs last season, according to Statcast, compared to a .334 wOBA against breaking pitches and a .355 mark against offspeed stuff.

"There was a lot of talk for whatever reason about Yoshi and velo, having issues with it last year," Cash said. "I think he did some things to make some adjustments to get on some of those powerful fastballs, and he did today."

• Leading off the fifth inning with the Red Sox defense shifted against him, Brandon Lowe dropped a bunt between the mound and third base. Pitcher Raynel Espinal's throw to first base was high, allowing Lowe to reach on the error. Don't be surprised if you see more bunts like that to keep teams honest against the Rays' left-handed hitters.

"They're going to bunt," Cash said. "I mean, we've kind of talked to them a lot about that and limiting that heavy, heavy shift."

Around the horn
• Catcher Kevan Smith, who hasn't played since Sunday, is dealing with a back injury. Smith was scratched from one start earlier this spring due to a back issue, and Cash said the catcher will likely be seen for further testing after reporting more discomfort.

• Cash said first baseman Ji-Man Choi (right knee inflammation) is "doing pretty good" in his recovery, although it's still too soon to say if he'll be ready for Opening Day.

• Bally Sports Sun, the regional sports network rebranding from FOX Sports Sun, announced on Friday that it will televise 160 regular-season Rays games -- every game not airing exclusively on a national platform -- this season. The network's coverage begins on April 1, and all Tampa Bay programming will stream live on the Bally Sports app and ballysports.com if authenticated through a consumer's pay-TV service.

The Rays' entire broadcast crew will return: play-by-play announcer Dewayne Staats, color commentator Brian Anderson, lead in-game reporter Tricia Whitaker, host Rich Hollenberg, analysts Doug Waechter and Orestes Destrade and digital host/reporter Kailey Mizelle.

Up next
The Rays will play their only night game of the spring against the Twins on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. ET in Fort Myers, Fla. Wacha will start for Tampa Bay, and the club is also expected to send its top three late-inning arms to the mound: Pete Fairbanks, Nick Anderson and Diego Castillo. The Rays' radio broadcast will air on WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM, and the Twins' FOX Sports North telecast will be available on MLB.TV.