Whitlock takes step in right direction in 2023 debut

ST. PETERSBURG -- The opponent -- the juggernaut known as the Tampa Bay Rays -- created a challenging circumstance for Garrett Whitlock to make his return to the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.

Until the fifth inning, when he gave up back-to-back solo rockets to Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe, Whitlock had a pretty good handle on things.

Despite the less than spectacular stat line (five innings, eight hits, five runs, three homers, zero walks and five strikeouts) in a 7-2 loss to the 11-0 Rays, it was a decent enough first step for Whitlock in his first Major League appearance since undergoing right hip surgery on Sept. 26.

“Obviously not the way I wanted it to go, but it’s at least good to be a part of the team again,” said Whitlock. “They’re a very good lineup. But you always want to compete and be better than I was.”

The key is that Whitlock is healthy and ready to take the ball every fifth day for the Sox in what is shaping up as his first full season as exclusively a starting pitcher.

Of Whitlock’s 85 pitches, 62 were for strikes.

“Look, Whitlock's a good pitcher,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “We knew that was his first start. He is building himself back up. He was a strike-throwing machine early on, but felt like our guys kind of settled in, made maybe some minor adjustments and then got some pitches they could handle for some big home runs.”

The Rays are doing that to everyone so far this season.

All three homers that Whitlock gave up were on pitches that were supposed to be on the outside portion of the plate, but drifted in.

“Overall, just happy to have him back. He threw a ton of strikes,” said Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush. “He’s ready to pitch in the big leagues, but he’s still behind where everyone else is at this point in the year. Glad that he’s healthy and pitching pain free, and [we] look forward to getting him back out there in a few days.”

Entering the season, the starting rotation was the biggest concern for Boston. But it is becoming less of a concern. Not only is Whitlock back in action, but Brayan Bello is soon to follow.

Making what was likely his final Minor League rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Bello stretched out to six innings, allowing four hits and one run while walking none and striking out four. Bello, who possesses the best raw stuff of any of Boston’s starting pitchers, topped out at 97 mph.

Veteran lefty James Paxton might not be far off either. Paxton will start Friday for Worcester and could need just an outing or two after that one before his activation.

“We’ve known for a while these guys weren’t going to start the season active,” said Bush. “We knew that early in Spring Training it was just a matter of getting them healthy so they can go out and pitch the way they want to. We’re continuing to get guys back and pitching better with the guys that are here.”

A rotation of Chris Sale, Bello, Whitlock and Corey Kluber in the first four spots -- with Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck and Paxton vying for the final spot, with the other two pitching in the bullpen -- could be a productive situation.

Offense hits pothole

Though the pitching is starting to feel more settled, the offense has struggled mightily in the first two games without Adam Duvall, who suffered a fractured left wrist on Sunday.

In the middle of a stretch in which they are facing seven lefties in a span of eight games, three right-handed hitters have gone cold for the Sox in Kiké Hernández (0-for-27 slump), Justin Turner and Christian Arroyo.

Boston’s lineup -- built around left-handed hitters Rafael Devers, Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida and Triston Casas -- is having trouble with the left-on-left matchups of late. The Sox will get a righty on Wednesday in Taj Bradley, the Rays’ No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline.

“We didn’t really have it today,” said Hernández. “Score two runs in two games, it’s tough to win like that. We just need to do a better job of putting together good at-bats and keeping the line moving and getting big hits. Whether it’s moving the guy over and hitting a sacrifice fly or whatever it is. We need to do what we did against Baltimore and what we did against Detroit.”