When the Red Sox traded Jake Peavy early Saturday afternoon, the question of who was going to take the righty's place in the rotation was raised. That question appears to be answered.
Pawtucket Red Sox righty Allen Webster left the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate on their current road trip in Scranton, P.A., a source told Over the Monster. Webster was scratched from his start on Saturday against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders on Saturday according to Ryan Hannable of Insider the Batter's Box.
Webster is the logical choice to make Peavy's scheduled start on Sunday in the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Anthony Ranaudo pitched on Friday and Brandon Workman pitched on Thursday. Logically speaking, if the Red Sox prefer Workman to Webster in the rotation, the team could wait until Workman's rest scheduled lines up with a potential starting slot in the rotation.
Webster will make the start over other 40-man roster candidates such as Steven Wright and Felix Doubront.
The 24-year-old righty, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the megatrade that sent Nick Punto, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the West Coast, has not yet made an appearance in the majors in 2014. For the PawSox, Webster has posted a 3.10 ERA in 122 innings pitched over 21 appearances, 20 starts, striking out 100, walking 44 and allowing a .234 opponent batting average. In his last ten starts, Webster has a 3.03 ERA with 57 strikeouts, 19 walks and a .219 opponent batting average in 62 1/3 innings pitched.
UPDATE: Red Sox manager John Farrell announced prior to Saturday's game that Allen Webster will start on Sunday against the Rays.