Red Sox activate right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly from 15-day disabled list

The Boston Red Sox today activated right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Steven Wright was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket following last night's game. Kelly is starting today's game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium beginning at 1:05 p.m.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Kelly, 26, began the season on the disabled list (retroactive to March 27) with a right biceps strain. He made three Grapefruit League starts this spring, last on March 16 against the New York Mets. Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals last July 31, he is entering his first full season in the Red Sox organization. In a career-high 17 starts between the two clubs last season, he went 6-4 with a 4.20 ERA (45 ER/96.1 IP), including a team-best 4.11 ERA in 10 starts after joining the Red Sox (min. 30.0 IP). Kelly is 21-16 with a 3.41 ERA (124 ER/327.1 IP) and 220 strikeouts in 78 career major league appearances (48 starts) between the Cardinals (2012-14) and Red Sox (2014).

Wright, 30, made his 2015 season debut last night, allowing two runs over the final 5.0 innings of the Red Sox' 19-inning game in New York to earn the win. In six games for the Red Sox last season, including one start, the knuckleballer went 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA (6 ER/21.0 IP), striking out 22 batters. He began the 2014 season on the disabled list recovering from sports hernia surgery and spent most of the year at Pawtucket, posting a 5-5 record with a 3.41 ERA (36 ER/95.0 IP) in 15 starts. Wright has 10 games of major league experience (two starts), all with the Red Sox from 2013-14.