FORT MYERS, Fla. — With Xander Bogaerts back in camp, the Red Sox unveiled something looking suspiciously like an Opening Day lineup.

Dustin Pedroia, Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts are at the top of the order, followed by Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland. Bogaerts slotted in sixth, ahead of Jackie Bradley, Jr., Pablo Sandoval and Blake Swihart. Swihart is the outlier of the group, since Sandy Leon still figures to be the Opening Day catcher.

Eduardo Rodriguez has met and exceeded all expectations in spring training. "I feel strong. I feel ready to go," said Rodriguez, who was hurt during last year's preseason. Associated Press/David Goldman

In fact, Leon was not in the lineup on Thursday so that he could catch Opening Day starter Rick Porcello in a minor-league game on the back fields.

Manager John Farrell called it a potential lineup for April 3 against the Pirates, though said he’s still thinking about moving a few pieces around. That includes Benintendi hitting third to further break up the right-handed hitters. At the same time, such a move has its downsides.

“This was the dilemma with David (Ortiz) hitting three or four. You’re looking for your most complete hitter, or your most productive hitter, to come up in that first inning. And that case right now, that would be Mookie,” Farrell said. “There’s some balance to all that.

“The fact is that this is a pretty good problem to have with the different alignments. More than anything, you’re looking at five or six guys capable of being in those top three slots.”

The main issue with the Red Sox lineup is balance. Bogaerts probably deserves to hit in the top third as he has for most of the past two seasons, but doing so would place yet another right-handed hitter in the top half of the order and leave the bottom half almost exclusively left-handed. Stacking righties isn’t too big a problem; having a line of lefties (or in Pablo Sandoval’s case, a switch-hitter who has struggled mightily against left-handed pitching) could make things simple for opposing bullpens.

That’s why Farrell has moved Benintendi to the top third and Bogaerts down a bit. The shortstop said the only difference for him would be the first at-bat.

“(It’s) just hitting early in the game. That’s what I’m more used to, hitting in that first inning,” he said. “You get those three outs, run back in the dugout quick, you know you’re going to hit that inning. That’s a guarantee while 4-5-6, you’re depending on someone to get a hit.”

PABLO SANDOVAL had two hits and three RBI as the Red Sox beat the Pirates 10-7 at Fort Myers, Florida. Steven Wright got the win, going 41/3 innings and allowing just two hits.

WHAT A change from a year ago for Eduardo Rodriguez.

In spring training 2016, Rodriguez was the starter whose seemingly minor knee tweak turned into a layoff that lasted until the last day of May.

This year, he’s met and surpassed every weighty expectation that’s been laid at his feet.

“I feel strong, I feel ready to go,” said Rodriguez after he pitched for Single-A Salem in a back field game against the Rays.

For 52/3 innings, Rodriguez and catcher Christian Vazquez more or less toyed with Tampa Bay’s minor league hitters. Rodriguez struck out eight, did not issue a walk and allowed one run on six hits. Of his 85 pitches, 59 were strikes.

“It’s real different when you’re facing minor leaguers instead of big leaguers because they swing at everything,” Rodriguez said. “In the big leagues, I like to pitch a little bit more but I felt really good, working on all my pitches. Everything was really good.”

Rodriguez has been working hard on the command of his pitches and is seeing results.

“That’s what I’ve been working on – every time, throw more strikes,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been throwing all my pitches in every inning.”

Rodriguez appears much more confident and comfortable in the Red Sox clubhouse, where he is a regular at the ping-pong table. The combination of feeling healthy and seeing results on the mound has been intoxicating.

“Last year I didn’t have any chance to throw anything in spring training, just a little bit of long toss,” Rodriguez said. “This is the first year I can pitch in the games and get ready for the season. I feel really happy with that.”

Vazquez’ cannon of a throwing arm was again on display, as he threw out a pair of runners on stolen base attempts.

Rodriguez laughed at the memory of the futile attempts by the Rays.

“I don’t care too much about the runner because I know if I throw it pretty good to home plate, he’s out,” Rodriguez said. “That’s good when you have catchers like that.”

HERE’S MORE of what Chris Sale finds so appealing about his new team.

“Just the energy on a day-to-day basis,” Sale said after his spectacular start (10 strikeouts) against the Yankees in Tampa on Tuesday night. “I’ve said it a million times, but not only from the players but from the staff, top to bottom really. Our coaches get into it. They get fired up over drills and doing the little things right. That’s important, especially here in spring training. A lot of times people can get lackadaisical and go through the motions. I haven’t seen a whole lot of that here. That’s good. That’s what you want to see.

“Plus it’s a winning tradition here. Winning is at the top of the list … everybody associated with the Boston Red Sox wants to win bad. I love it.”

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