It says something about this New England spring that the Boston Red Sox are off to Detroit to find better weather.
The scheduled game with the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday afternoon was called early because of rain.
The team had just one chance to reschedule it, without permission from the players, and the Sox took it. Pittsburgh and Boston will try to play at 2:05 p.m. next Thursday at Fenway Park.
Fans holding tickets for the rain-out will be able to use them for the makeup game. It will extend a homestand from six to seven games and come between a pair of games with the Orioles and a four-game set with the Rays. It also sets up the Sox for a stretch of 17 games in 17 days, ending in Baltimore on April 23.
Rotation changes
Boston will play at 1:10 p.m. today in Detroit, commencing a four-game set with the Tigers at Comerica Park.
Boston’s projected rotation for the series has been shuffled a bit due to Thursday’s postponement. Steven Wright is scheduled to start the series opener. It will be the knuckleballer’s first start since Aug. 31, 2016, and just his second since throwing a three-hit shutout at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 5. He had been bothered by a shoulder injury. Wright will be opposed by Michael Fullmer.
On Saturday afternoon, Eduardo Rodriguez will get his first start of the season and Detroit will counter with Jordan Zimmerman. Sunday’s game will feature Rick Porcello making his second start at Comerica Park in a Boston uniform versus southpaw Daniel Norris. And Chris Sale will go against Justin Verlander in a marquee matchup on Monday afternoon.
Drew Pomeranz was scheduled to come off the 10- day disabled list and pitch Sunday, but instead will get the ball Tuesday at Fenway versus the Orioles. That allows Boston to keep one more arm in the bullpen for a couple of days.
Not the flu
Right fielder Mookie Betts was out of the starting lineup for Wednesday night’s game against Pittsburgh because of flu-like symptoms.
Manager John Farrell said Betts, the AL’s runner-up for MVP last season, is feeling the symptoms along with utility infielder Brock Holt and left-handed reliever Robbie Ross Jr.
Farrell said both Betts and Holt were tested, but neither had the actual flu virus. Holt was sent home.
“We’ve got a few tentative situations health-wise,” Farrell said. “Mookie’s not in the lineup because of flu-like symptoms. That’s kind of hit our clubhouse fairly hard.”
Clay Buchholz
Former Boston starting pitcher Clay Buchholz made his first start for his new team, the Philadelphia Phillies, on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Buchholz picked up a no decision, pitching five innings on four earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts.
The Phillies lost to the Reds, 7-4.
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