FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox won't send their big three to the mound in Grapefruit League games for roughly another week, manager John Farrell said Thursday morning.
And before Rick Porcello, David Price and Chris Sale pitch in games, they will throw simulated games.
This is due to the fact Spring Training is a week longer than normal because of the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
"We're going to simulate an outing next week so basically they can join in the rotation of the regular games six days later [than the start of the schedule]," said Red Sox pitching coach Carl Willis.
Tentatively, Porcello will throw a sim game on Sunday, followed by Price on Tuesday and Sale on Wednesday. Each starter will pitch a Grapefruit League game four to five days after that.
"We'll try to control the intensity at the beginning," said Willis. "They will still get six, seven starts, to be ready for the season."
The Red Sox played Northeastern University on Thursday and open their Grapefruit League schedule on Friday at JetBlue Park against the Mets. First pitch against the Mets is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.
• Rusney Castillo did not get off to a good start in his mission to improve his stock in the organization. The outfielder failed to run hard out of the box while hitting into an inning-ending double play to end the third inning of Thursday's 9-6 win over Northeastern. After signing a seven-year, $72.5 million in August of 2014, Castillo hasn't been able to display any consistency and is a non-roster player in this Spring Training.
"Disappointing for a couple of reasons," Farrell said. "One, he lost [track] of the number of outs. Still, regardless of another of outs, getting down the line is controllable. And for a player in his situation, every little aspect of the game is important. That's something that was addressed in the moment. He needs to execute the game situation. And for that matter, every player. But that one obviously stood out."
• Closer Craig Kimbrel and lefty starter Eduardo Rodriguez are two other pitchers taking it at a slower pace this spring. Farrell said they will both throw live batting practice for the first time on Saturday. Steven Wright and Thomas Pomeranz, both coming off injuries from last season, threw their second bullpen sessions of camp on Thursday.
• Farrell hasn't had to provide many medical updates so far this spring, and that's obviously a good thing. The manager knocked on the wooden bench when a reporter asked him if there were any injuries.
"No, so far, everyone's come through the bullpens fine," said Farrell.
• Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts will hold a one-day baseball clinic on June 22 at Woburn (Mass.) High School, it was announced on Thursday. The clinic is open to boys and girls of all skill levels from grades 1-8 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET and will cost $149. Registration is available at MookieBettsClinic.com.