Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports. Manager John Farrell had been non-committal about Kelly's next turn in the rotation after another disappointing start Tuesday. His ERA is sitting at an unsightly 5.67 and he's allowed 81 hits in 74.2 innings of work. Justin Masterson will take Kelly's spot in the rotation while Kelly works on his craft at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Manager John Farrell has not committed to Kelly making his next start, telling the Boston Globe, "we haven't had a chance to review all that, but I think everyone, we're certainly well aware some of the up-and-down path it's been for Joe up to this point." Kelly was rocked for five runs on eight hits and two walks in 3.2 innings Tuesday night. It was the sixth time in 14 starts he's allowed at least five runs. The Red Sox have Justin Masterson on the roster as a potential replacement, or could reach down to Triple-A Pawtucket for Steven Wright or Brian Johnson.

Kelly was hit hard Tuesday, allowing five runs over 3.2 innings against the Orioles. The start was Kelly's shortest since his 1.2 inning outing against Minnesota last month. The righty has had a rough go of things this season, posting an unsightly 5.67 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. He'll try to get back on track this weekend in his start against the Rays.

Kelly allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over five innings Wednesday in Atlanta. He struck out three in the no-decision. The 26-year-old has had a lot of trouble pitching deep into games, as he's finished six innings in less than half of his 13 starts. With mediocre-at-best outings like this the norm for Kelly, it seems only a matter of time until the Red Sox find a more attractive alternative for their rotation. In the meantime, he's slotted to start Tuesday against Baltimore.

Kelly allowed four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out three over six innings, but came away with a no-decision as Toronto came-from-behind to defeat Boston 13-10 Friday night. It was a rather pedestrian performance by Kelly who actually left with an 8-4 lead before the bullpen experienced a meltdown in a nine-run seventh inning. Kelly was just named one of the rotation starters after the Red Sox opted to go away from a six-man rotation, but his 5.45 ERA isn't generating a lot of confidence in his future output.

Kelly will remain in Boston's starting rotation, according to Tom Caron of NESN. Boston's six-man rotation was a temporary thing and will be shrinking it back down to five. The decision as to who remained came down to Kelly and Steven Wright, who will move to the bullpen.

Kelly picked up his second win of the season Saturday, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks over six innings, striking out six. It's just his fourth quality start in 11 outings this season. After a rough stretch in late April-early May, Kelly has rebounded and given up two runs or less in four of his last five starts, lowering his ERA to a still-unsightly 5.40. He'll next take on the Jays at home on Friday.

Kelly rebounded nicely on Sunday as he threw five innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts and two walks against the Texas Rangers. He did not factor in the decision. The hard-throwing righty has been battered at times this season, but has now delivered three strong outings in his last four starts and has lowered his bloated ERA to 5.83 on the year. Kelly will likely remain in the starting rotation for the time being, and is scheduled to face the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Kelly met with manager John Farrell and pitching coach Carl Willis on Tuesday for about 40 minutes, one day after the pitcher allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings in a loss to the Twins, the Boston Globe reports. The outing left Kelly's season indicators at 1-4 with a 6.24 ERA. "The one thing that we continually try to point out to Joe is he's learning himself as a pitcher and what makes him most effective. [Monday] there were a number of balls that leaked back to the middle of the plate that he paid for," said Farrell, who believes Kelly needs to throw his curve ball more often. One gets the sense that Kelly's on a short leash. He's scheduled to start Saturday and if things don't turn around quickly, the Red Sox have options on staff right now in Matt Barnes or at Triple-A in Brian Johnson (5-3, 2.92 ERA) or Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 2.98 ERA).

Manager John Farrell said there's been "no decision here in this moment" when asked if Kelly will remain in the starting rotation following Monday's loss to the Twins, the Boston Globe reports. Kelly allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings, inflating his season ERA to 6.24, eighth highest in baseball. Monday was the shortest start of Kelly's career and it was the fifth time in nine starts this season he's allowed five or more earned runs. As for now, Kelly's the scheduled starter this coming Saturday against the Rangers, against whom Kelly allowed two runs in seven innings last week. If the Red Sox were to make a switch, Matt Barnes, who pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of Kelly, would be a candidate.