Eovaldi is a candidate to start against the Orioles over the weekend, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It sounds like Eovaldi could return to a starting role this weekend if he goes unused out of the bullpen in Wednesday's series finale against the Indians. The right-hander has looked better across four appearances in August (3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 3:3 K:BB in 5.2 innings) after initially struggling following his return from the injured list in July.

Eovaldi won't open Wednesday's game against the Indians after appearing out of the bullpen Tuesday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Alex Cora hinted prior to Tuesday's game Eovaldi was being considered to open Wednesday's contest, but he instead used the right-hander to escape from an eighth-inning jam where the tying run was on second base. The 29-year-old has mostly struggled in relief to this point, but he nonetheless came through in a high-leverage spot for the Red Sox. Brian Johnson will start Wednesday's series finale.

Manager Alex Cora stated Tuesday that "there's a good chance" Eovaldi will open Wednesday's game against the Indians, Tom Caron of NESN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi was expected to slot in as the team's primary closer after returning from injury, but he's struggled out of the bullpen since being activated from the injured list. Cora has been using in Eovaldi in low-leverage situations of late, but it appears that the right-hander will be given an opportunity to slot in as Boston's opener Wednesday. He'll likely have a chance to work deeper into the ballgame than a traditional opener, as he's slated to fire around 55 pitches. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Eovaldi will be used as a starter for the rest of the season in an effort to build his pitch count back up.

Eovaldi allowed two runs on three hits while striking out two over an inning in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

It's a good thing manager Alex Cora is letting Eovaldi pitch in low-leverage situations before entrusting him to be the primary closer. This was the second time in three tries that Eovaldi has been hit hard. His ERA is 16.88 after his first three relief outings.

Eovaldi allowed five hits and three runs while striking out two over two-thirds of an inning in Monday's 9-4 win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

This was Eovaldi's first appearance since coming off the injured list, and it was designed to be a soft landing after he missed three months with an elbow injury. Unfortunately, he showed up rusty and couldn't get out of the eighth inning. The silver lining is that just one of the five hits had an exit velocity over 93.8 mph, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com.

The Red Sox activated Eovaldi (elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi, whose last appearance for Boston came back on April 17, will rejoin the Red Sox in a different role, transitioning from starting to relief duty. Reports earlier this month suggested Eovaldi would be deployed as Boston's closer upon his reinstatement from the IL, but manager Alex Cora's recent comments suggest that Brandon Workman will in fact represent the Red Sox's top option for saves for the time being. Eovaldi should still be in store for a high-leverage role as he returns to the active roster on the heels of a successful rehab stint with Triple-A Pawtucket. During his lone appearance in the minors, Eovaldi struck out three of the four hitters he faced and sported a fastball that peaked around 98 miles per hour.

Eovaldi (elbow) won't necessarily be handed the closer role immediately upon being activated from the 60-day injured list Saturday, contrary to previous reports, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Reports from early July suggested that Eovaldi would be the Red Sox's closer once healthy, but those reports may have been premature. Manager Alex Cora has no plans to name a closer but acknowledged that Brandon Workman effectively has the role for now. Eovaldi could still win the job at some point, but don't expect him to be handed the majority of save chances right away.

Eovaldi (elbow) is expected to be activated off the 60-day injured list Saturday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi has been out since undergoing elbow surgery in mid-April. He's made just a single rehab appearance but the Red Sox have nevertheless decided he's ready to go. He's expected to be Boston's closer once active.

Eovaldi (elbow) issued one walk and struck out three batters across a scoreless inning for Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi looked sharp in what was his first game action since mid-April, firing 11 of his 19 pitches for strikes and touching 98 mph with his fastball, per Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal. If the right-hander checks out OK in the coming days, he could be activated from the injured list during the team's upcoming series in Baltimore, which begins Friday. Eovaldi is expected to serve as Boston's closer once healthy.

Eovaldi (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eovaldi has been sidelined since undergoing elbow surgery in mid-April, though he's closing in on a return. Seeing as he's transitioning to a closer role, the right-hander could be cleared to return during the team's upcoming road trip -- which begins in Baltimore over the weekend and runs through July 24 -- after just a brief rehab assignment, per Koch.