Eovaldi was named the Red Sox's Opening Day starter Saturday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi will be handed the relatively easy task of shutting down the Orioles' lineup next Friday and will line up to face the Mets in his next outing. He wouldn't have gotten the Opening Day nod in a typical season, but with Chris Sale recovering from Tommy John surgery and Eduardo Rodriguez only just reporting to camp Saturday after clearing COVID-19 protocols, he's the team's best available option. Eovaldi has been capable of ace-like stretches at times in his career, though his career 4.30 ERA over eight MLB seasons certainly doesn't meet that mark, and his 5.99 ERA in 67.2 innings last year was quite poor.

Eovaldi is scheduled for a six-inning stint in a scrimmage Sunday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

While manager Ron Roenicke hasn't announced Eovaldi as Boston's Opening Day starter, it's easy to see the right-hander is lining up to start the opener Friday, July 24, when the Red Sox and Orioles kick off the regular season. "I haven't said anything to him yet," Roenicke said. "That conversation will probably happen in the next day or two. But you guys can figure out the numbers there." If all starters were healthy, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez would start the opener, but he's still under the COVID-19 protocol and time is running out for him to be ready by then.

Eovaldi threw 66 pitches over four innings in his latest simulated game Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander threw 44 of his 66 pitches for strikes. Four innings is the same amount he threw in his prior outing, though he may have thrown more inside (out of the view of reporters) Tuesday after his outdoor work was cut short by rain. In any case, it appears as though he'll be able to handle something close to a full workload in his first start of the year, which will likely come against the Orioles on Opening Day due to the absences of Chris Sale (elbow) and Eduardo Rodriguez (illness).

Eovaldi allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four over four innings in an intrasquad game Thursday,

EDGE Analysis

In continuation of a dominant spring training, when Eovaldi pitched 12 scoreless Grapefruit League innings, the right-hander mastered Boston's hitters during Thursday's session and then followed up with a fifth inning in the bullpen. He used all of his pitches Thursday, including a revamped slider, a pitch he focused on during the shutdown. Eovaldi will be an important player for the Red Sox in what will be a thin starting rotation. With Eduardo Rodriguez (illness) not yet in camp and uncertain to report, Eovaldi is expected to be the Opening Day starter.

Eovaldi is slated to throw his second simulated game of summer camp Thursday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Based on the tentative throwing schedule for the Red Sox's prospective rotation candidates, Eovaldi would currently be lined up for the Opening Day nod. Coming off an injury-plagued season in which he posted a 5.99 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 67.2 innings, Eovaldi doesn't profile as an ideal No. 1 starter entering the 60-game season, but the Red Sox aren't left with many alternatives while Chris Sale (elbow) recovers from Tommy John surgery and Eduardo Rodriguez (not injury related) has yet to arrive at summer camp. Rodriguez is currently awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test and could be in danger of missing the start of the season if a positive result were to come up.

Eovaldi threw three innings in a simulated game Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi threw approximately 45 pitches during his first throwing session of summer camp. "The stuff was great," said Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke. "The cutter was good, the slider, the curveball. Threw some really good split-fingers and the velocity was there on his fastball. He got what he needed to do today. Moving forward, we're thinking his next outing will be an intrasquad game." Saturday, Eovaldi built off the positive results he had during spring training, when the right-hander tossed eight scoreless innings while striking out 12 and walking one over three Grapefruit League starts. With Eduardo Rodriguez (not injury related) not yet in camp due to possible exposure to someone who tested positive for coronavirus, Eovaldi temporarily moves up a slot in the rotation.

Eovaldi allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four over three scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi came out firing, hitting 97 mph during the first inning. He navigated traffic in the first before setting down the final seven batters faced. He's looked great thus far, tossing zeros and fanning 41.4 percent of batters faced through eight Grapefruit League innings.

Eovaldi allowed one hit and struck out four over three scoreless innings in Sunday's spring game against the Braves.

EDGE Analysis

For the second straight start, Eovaldi was pinpoint with his command. He's allowed three hits and no walks while striking out eight over his two spring starts (five innings). It's an encouraging sign out of the right-hander, from whom the Red Sox are expecting a bounceback year. An elbow injury limited him to 67.2 innings in 2019. They envision Eovaldi taking the ball every fifth day. Other than 2014 with the Marlins, when Eovaldi threw 199.2 innings, he hasn't sniffed the 200-inning mark, so expectations are high.

Eovaldi allowed two hits and struck out four in two innings in Monday's spring game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi cited the return of his splitter as the catalyst for his strong spring debut. "Yeah, I'd say my splitter for sure," Eovaldi told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "Last year it was real inconsistent. That was one of the pitches I really focused on this offseason. Make sure I got that back on track. Today they were really consistent." After an inconsistent 2019 season, during which he served some time as a reliever, Eovladi will resume his role as a full-time starter in 2020. With David Price off to Los Angeles, the Red Sox need the 2018 version of Eovaldi, a starter who helped them win the World Series.

Eovaldi (2-1) took the loss after yielding three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three over five innings Friday night against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi gave up all three runs in the third inning on a three-run blast to left field, and the Orioles would go on to win 4-1. The 29-year-old's season is likely over with just two games remaining in the regular season, and he'll finish with a 5.99 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 70 strikeouts across 67.2 frames.