CHICAGO — Right-hander Josh Smith will make his first start for the Red Sox in Monday’s series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore. The decision for the fifth spot in the rotation — in flux while Nathan Eovaldi is out for a couple more months — came down to Smith and Hector Velazquez. Smith, however, pitched in relief on Friday, while Velazquez pitched in relief on Saturday. “Because we have protection, and he hasn’t pitched in a while, so we’ll go with him (Monday),” manager Alex Cora said of his reasoning. He said he expects Smith to go between four and five innings. Smith joined the club in anticipation of the game against the Rays on April 26 that was rained out, but had not pitched until Friday. That appearance was his first since Aug. 14, 2017. Both Velazquez and Smith were on standby duty Sunday in case Rick Porcello had a short start. FUN ON BASES The Sox’ seven-run rally in the eighth inning of their 9-2 win Sunday began on a goofy, two-error play. With the score tied at 2, Rafael Devers laced a one-out single to left field. It was hit so hard, Devers had to scamper back to first once the throw from left fielder Nicky Delmonico reached shortstop Tim Anderson. The shortstop gambled to throw out Devers at first, but the ball got away from first baseman Jose Abreu. Devers, who had dived back to first, scrambled up and ran to second base. He dove there, too, and Abreu’s throw went into the outfield. Devers again picked himself up and made it to third base. Two batters later, Mitch Moreland singled him home. “He crushed that ball,” Cora said. “As soon as the left fielder got it, I was like, ‘Oh, he better stop.’ But he read it well. He came back, Anderson took a chance on that one, and he saw the ball get away and made a good read. He’s been swinging the bat well.” GOOD WORKMAN Brandon Workman pitched the seventh inning and earned the win, his second of the season. He had another clean inning and has not allowed a hit to the last 32 batters he’s faced. Opponents are hitting a paltry .034 (2-for-58) off him over 15-⅔ innings this season. . . . In the four-game series, the Red Sox outscored the White Sox 34-11. . . . Xander Bogaerts hit the fifth grand slam of his career, the first this season. . . . Second baseman Michael Chavis saw his 11-game on-base streak snapped. He did make a terrific over the shoulder catch in the eighth inning. THIS BETTS OFF Mookie Betts had the day off. He is expected to play all three games in Baltimore, before an off day leads into a return to Fenway on Friday. The Sox have two off days next week. “It’s a good time to kind of recharge, reset them,” Cora said. “They’ve been playing a lot, so it’s good for him to have today off and get ready for Baltimore.” With Betts out, J.D. Martinez made his first start in the outfield since April 23. He’s been the DH exclusively in part because of a stiff back. “He’s excited to be out there,” Cora said before working in a good-natured gibe at Martinez. “It’ll be good for him just to go out there and play the outfield. It’s good for the coaches so they don’t have to throw batting practice during the game. They can save their arms, so it’s a good day for everybody.” JBJ BACK ON CENTER STAGE After missing the second and third games here because of overall body soreness from banging into the center field wall twice in the first game, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was back in center field. Bradley, who went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout, has been mired in a near season-slung slump at the plate. “Just keep doing what he was doing in the homestand, you know?” said Cora, referencing better swings Bradley put on the ball even when he did not get results at Fenway last week. “Try and go the other way. Being aggressive in the strike zone early in counts. Hopefully the results start showing.” . . . The right shoulder impingement Brock Holt has been dealing with is improving, and on Monday he will resume baseball activities. His corneal abrasion has healed, and now he is returning to game-ready status. ”He gives us balance, a left-handed hitter that can play everywhere on the field, he’s a quality at-bat when he’s healthy, so we miss him,” said Cora. “We’ll be patient, we know how important he is and we’re not going to rush him.” The Sox want Holt to resume his minor league rehab assignment as soon as possible. “We just have to make sure he’s ready to play,” said Cora. “At bat-wise he doesn’t need much but repetition-wise he might need a little more.” . . . An update on Tzu-Wei Lin’s sprained left knee should be available by Monday, but Cora indicated it may not be a serious injury. “We’ll know more (Monday) about where he’s at but it looks like it’s not as bad as it looks,” the manager said.<doc-sep>Josh Smith will take the mound for the Boston Red Sox Monday to open the series against the Baltimore Orioles. With the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, Smith is 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA and 23 strikeouts. Smith will be pitching against Orioles’ David Hess, who is 1-4 with a 5.34 ERA and 22 strikeouts. First pitch in Baltimore is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. For more on Monday night’s pitching matchup, check out the “Red Sox Final” video above, presented by Rodenhiser Heating and Cooling. Thumbnail photo via Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports Images<doc-sep>CHICAGO — Josh Smith will start for the Boston Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Manager Alex Cora chose Smith over Hector Velazquez who has a 3.72 ERA in 10 outings (four starts) and recently has started in injured Nathan Eovaldi’s spot. Why Smith over Velazquez? “Because we have protection,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora explained. “He hasn’t pitched in a while. So we’ll go with him tomorrow.” Cora said he thinks Smith can give the Red Sox 12-15 outs. Smith went 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA (seven earned runs, 16.2 innings), 1.38 WHIP and .277 batting average against in three starts for Triple-A Pawtucket. The Red Sox promoted him last Friday to start vs. the Rays at Fenway Park. But the game was rained out. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning this past Friday, allowing a hit and striking out one vs. the White Sox. He’s 5-8 with a 5.26 ERA in 68 career major league games, including nine starts.<doc-sep>
CHICAGO — Either Hector Velazquez or Josh Smith will start for the Boston Red Sox on Monday in Baltimore against the Orioles. “Let’s see how it goes today,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’ve got Smitty, too, as an option. Trying to win today. Hector, you saw what he did yesterday throwing the ball the way he did. So everybody is available today and then we’ll decide tomorrow. It will be one of the two.” Velazquez pitched a scoreless ninth Saturday vs. the White Sox here at Guaranteed Rate Field. He prefers to pitch an inning of relief two days before a start. “There was one where he didn’t pitch for seven or eight days and he didn’t feel command-wise that he was in a good spot. ... The one inning, I think it helps him with command.” Smith hasn’t pitched much lately. The righty last started a game April 20 for Triple-A Pawtucket. The Red Sox promoted him last Friday to start at Fenway Park vs. the Rays. But the game was rained out. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning this Friday, allowing a hit and striking out one vs. the White Sox. “He’ll be fine,” Cora said. “He threw the ball well the other day. He was built up. It’s not the perfect scenario. Hopefully today, Rick (Porcello) goes deep into the game.” Smith went 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA (seven earned runs, 16.2 innings), 1.38 WHIP and .277 batting average against in three starts for Pawtucket. “He was throwing the ball well,” Cora said. “You saw what he did the other day. He was fresh, too. The movement, that’s something everybody talks about towards the end. The mix where he can go to the edges of the strike zone. Something we saw in spring training (pitching coach) Dana (LeVangie) really likes. So we’ll make a decision.”