Red Sox Minor Lines: Eduardo Rodriguez is ready to return

Futures Game World 6, U.S. 7

Rafael Devers: 1-4, 2 K

Devers was not in Portland for Sunday’s game because he was a little busy in Miami competing with the best prospects in the world for the second time in his career. It wasn’t the best game we’ve ever seen, but he did get a hit off Brent Honeywell, who was given the game’s MVP award. Devers will play in the Double-A All-Star Game later this week, and from there’s it’s only a matter of time until he’s promoted to Pawtucket.

Pawtucket W 2-1 (F/11)

Rusney Castillo: 2-5

Brock Holt (3B): 1-4

Pablo Sandoval (DH): 0-4, 1 BB, 1 K

Bryce Brentz: 1-5, 1 K

Aneury Tavarez: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Eduardo Rodriguez: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K

Brandon Workman: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

I think Rodriguez might be ready for a return to the majors. This was fairly clear after his last rehab outing, but there wasn’t an easy way to get him back in the rotation before the All-Star break so the Red Sox opted to keep him out of the rotation for one more turn and let him make his next start in Triple-A. He’ll be back in the fifth spot of the rotation when they get back from the break, and he figures to be a huge part of their second half. Sandoval, on the other hand, looks more and more like someone who just can’t be part of their plans at this point.

Portland W 3-2

Danny Mars: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS

Michael Chavis: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Josh Tobias: 1-2, 2 BB

Henry Owens: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K

Trevor Kelley: 0.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

After a complete disaster of a first start in Portland from Owens, his second time out was an improvement. And by that I mean that, instead of imploding, he had a classic Henry Owens outing. He made it through five innings this time and didn’t allow any damage, but still walked a batter per inning. He’s working on a new delivery and these things take time, but I really wonder how much longer you can work him in the rotation before giving him a shot out of the ‘pen. I’m not super confident that would change much, but at a certain point you just have to admit the whole starting thing just isn’t working out.

Salem L 3-4

Josh Ockimey: 0-4, 1 K

Tate Matheny: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R

Greenville W 6-5

Lorenzo Cedrola: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 CS

Tyler Hill: 1-5, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Roldani Baldwin: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI

Darwinzon Hernandez: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

It’s been an interesting year for this Drive team, and all four of the players listed above have had their good and their bad moments. Hernandez is an exciting young pitcher and has 67 strikeouts in 52 innings of work, but the 20-year-old also has a tendency to lose his command at times. Baldwin could use a little more patience, but he’s hitting .294/.329/.529 as a catcher. That’ll play. Hill and Cedrola have been up and down all year, but they both provide an exciting skillset, can get hits in bunches and bring a ton of athleticism to the table. The Bobby Dalbec injury seemed like it’d hurt this team in terms of entertainment value, but the remaining players have stepped up.

Lowell W 7-4

Brett Netzer: 2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI

Yoan Aybar: 1-4, 1 R