


FORT MYERS, Fla. – Spring training games begin Friday, and by weekend’s end fans will get their first look at one of the biggest pitching acquisitions in recent Red Sox history.
Alex Cora announced Wednesday that Brian Van Belle will start the Friday exhibition game at home against Northeastern University (1:05 p.m. ET), with Quinn Priester going on Saturday when the Red Sox travel to Port Charlotte to face the Tampa Bay Rays (1:05 p.m. ET).
Left-hander Garrett Crochet has the ball on Sunday, for the first home game of Sox Spring. Crochet, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a sizable prospect bundle that included ’23 and ’24 first-round picks Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, will go up against the Toronto Blue Jays. Crochet is coming off an All-Star season in which he posted a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts, with 209 strikeouts and just 33 walks in 146 innings.
Cora also announced his starters – but not the lineup – for Friday’s game:
1B: Abraham Toro
2B: Kristian Campbell
SS: Marcelo Mayer
3B: Nick Sogard
LF: Roman Anthony
CF: Nate Eaton
RF: Jhostynxon Garcia
“One of the catchers” will serve as the designated hitter.
The Red Sox host the Northeastern Huskies Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET.