Worth noting

• The Red Sox set up a simulated game for David Ortiz in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday afternoon because their extended spring team had a road game in Florida. Ortiz could open his Minor League rehab assignment for Triple-A Pawtucket as early as Thursday.

The PawSox start a string of eight straight home games Thursday, which makes it a perfect time for Ortiz to get steady at-bats without having to travel. He might not even need all eight games before returning to the Red Sox.

• Lefty Franklin Morales (low back strain) will start the process of ramping back up when he throws 20 pitches and one inning in an extended spring game in Fort Myers on Monday. Morales will pitch again on Friday. Morales will get stretched out as a starter before returning to the Sox.

• Craig Breslow, the other lefty reliever to open the season on the DL, will pitch a simulated game on Tuesday and could pitch in a rehab game by the end of the week.

• With lefty Chen on the mound for the Orioles on Monday, David Ross got the start behind the plate for Boston instead of Jarrod Saltalamacchia. It was the third start of the season for Ross.

• First baseman/DH Mauro Gomez was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. The Red Sox designated Gomez for assignment to make room for Bradley Jr., who made the team as a non-roster invitee. Gomez hit .275 for the Red Sox with two homers and 17 RBIs in 37 games last season.