FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Kyle Kendrick is positioning himself to be the first starter the Red Sox call on if a need arises during the regular season.
In Friday night's 4-0 victory over the Orioles, the veteran non-roster invitee fired four scoreless innings. It was the second straight start Kendrick didn't allow a run, as he improved to 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four appearances this spring.
"I just want to be aggressive and throw strikes and be around the strike zone and throw strikes with all my pitches and make sure the ball is moving how it should and how I'm used to it moving," Kendrick said. "Obviously for me, I'm a ground-ball pitcher, so I try to get early contact, quick outs. And when I'm going right, that's what I'm doing."
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Among the starting pitchers who can provide organizational depth for the Red Sox, Kendrick has the most experience. Though he spent all of last season in the Minor Leagues, the sinkerballer has made 212 starts in the Major Leagues and has 81 victories. In six different seasons for the Phillies, Kendrick recorded at least 10 wins.
"Once again tonight, he used his defense extremely well," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "We played very good defense behind him. He's a strike thrower. He showed a little bit more of an offspeed pitch tonight with a changeup. Four quality innings, four very solid innings once again from Kyle."
Even if David Price starts the season on the disabled list due to the left elbow strain he is currently rehabbing from, Kendrick is still likely to open the season at Triple-A Pawtucket.
The Red Sox also have Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright and Thomas Pomeranz slated for the rotation without Price. But Wright and Pomeranz are both coming back from injuries.
Kendrick is building momentum with each strong outing.
"I feel good," Kendrick said. "I think the main thing is I feel healthy. The last year or so I hadn't really felt right. But I came into camp, started throwing a little earlier than I have in the past and I felt better. I feel strong and I think that's the main thing. I feel right with where I want to be with my stuff."

With three weeks left in Spring Training, the Red Sox will continue to give Kendrick as many looks as they can.
"I think at some point in camp, we'll see him against maybe a club's everyday regular lineup," Farrell said. "That's not to take away from his performances to date. But I wouldn't anticipate a different approach against a different type of lineup. He's pitching to his strengths."