Kelly "certainly has the lead on that fifth spot" in Boston's starting rotation, acknowledged manager John Farrell, the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Someone with Kelly's track record should not be assured of a job, but his finish to the 2015 season left a positive impression on Farrell and other organizational decision-makers. After a demotion to Triple-A Pawtucket last year, Kelly began implementing his slider and changeup more often and had an encouraging 3.77 ERA over his final 11 starts. That late-season performance gives him the lead on a cast of characters that includes Steven Wright, Henry Owens, Roenis Elias and Brian Johnson. Injury or performance could lead to Farrell to alter course, but as we sit here at the end of February, Kelly is the likely fifth starter.