The one current gray area in Boston Red Sox spring training is still who is going to be the number five starter. The team is just two weeks away from Opening Day, and the starting rotation seems to be slowly figuring itself out.

There is one clear front-runner and right now it is his to lose.

My Hottest Take: Johan Oviedo will be the Red Sox' fifth starter

While the competition was between Johan Oviedo, Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford, Payton Tolle, and Connelly Early for that fifth starter spot, it is looking like Oviedo will be named the fifth man for the Boston Red Sox.

Oviedo has played three spring training games, sitting at just eight innings pitched, with nine strikeouts, and a 0.00 ERA. Yes, it is only spring training, but that is an amazing feat, as even Garrett Crochet has a 5.79 ERA. Oviedo played just nine games last season, coming back from Tommy John surgery. His second start of spring training saw him throw 47 pitches, with 32 of them being strikes, a huge improvement from his first start. He continued that success into his third start of spring training.

What You Should Know: Patrick Sandoval and Kutter Crawford May Not Start at All

Sandoval and Crawford are both coming off injuries that held them out of the 2025 season. Sandoval is coming off Tommy John surgery and Crawford is dealing with wrist and knee injuries. When Crawford was healthy he was a solid starter in 2023 and 2024, but with the staff the team has this coming season, he may be a better fit in the bullpen or even as a spot-starter when the team needs him. Sandoval is an extra left-hander that could help bolster their bullpen, which has very few left-handed arms.

Sandoval, when healthy, is a good pitcher. He has had two seasons where he had under a 4.00 ERA. While his record may not look stunning sitting at 19-45 in his 107 games played in his career, he holds a 4.01 ERA and 529 strikeouts. Crawford is similar in terms of not having a stunning record at 18-31 in his 86 games played in his career with a 4.56 ERA and 389 strikeouts. Strikeouts are the keys to both of their successes as they control their zones and focus on swings and misses.

Before You Go: Payton Tolle and Connelly Early Could Beat Out Oviedo but Not Likely

Tolle and Early, when they came up last season, looked like they had always belonged in the major leagues. Tolle had a bumpier start than Early, but they continued to show off what they could do and it allowed the Red Sox the boost they needed to get to the playoffs. Early even got the start in the loss to the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, which is huge for a rookie. Early seems to be the more likely candidate to beat out Oviedo, but right now, with the showing from Oviedo, that spot is his to lose.