CLEVELAND — If there is a role for Rusney Castillo with the Red Sox, it isn’t readily apparent. He is the fifth outfielder on a team that needs only four.

The decision to use Brock Holt in left field in a platoon with Chris Young left Castillo as a pinch runner or perhaps occasional duty in center field subbing for Jackie Bradley Jr.

One game into the season, manager John Farrell acknowledged that optioning Castillo back to Triple A Pawtucket could make sense.

“Every player, you want to be sure that they are getting regular time,’’ Farrell said on Wednesday. “In his role, right now it’s a challenge to get the regular at-bats.

“I can’t say that we’ve gotten to the point where we’re looking to make a change. I won’t rule out that, that might come up in conversation as we go forward. We aren’t there yet.’’

Castillo has brought it on himself, hitting .262 with a .680 OPS in 90 major league games since the Red Sox signed him to a seven-year, $72.5 million deal in 2014.

At 28, Castillo may well be an expensive bust. But determining whether he has any value could start with regular playing time in the minors. That would prepare him should a more meaningful role arise in the majors.

For now, with Holt playing left field against righthanded pitchers, the Sox could use another infielder.

If Holt were pinch hit for, Farrell said the Red Sox would consider using Travis Shaw at second base if that became necessary.

“That would be to get through the remainder of a given game,’’ the manager said.

The Koji plan

Koji Uehara pitched only 3? innings against major league teams during spring training. He gave up five runs on eight hits.

But when it counted on Tuesday, Uehara retired the side in order on 12 pitches in the eighth inning, quickly setting down Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, and Mike Napoli.

In essence, Uehara doesn’t see spring training games as being all that necessary to prepare for the season.

“I need conditioning and getting mentally focused,’’ Uehara said via translator C.J. Matsumoto. “It’s more just getting my body ready to pitch.’’

Uehara believes frequent sessions of long toss and pitching in minor league games adequately prepare him for the season. That extended work is preferable to getting three quick outs in an exhibition game.

“I have complete trust in Koji,’’ Farrell said. “We witness and watch him work. He’s very forthright, he’s very honest with how he feels in terms of arm strength. With Koji, when he has his arm strength everything else falls in line.’’

Farrell and pitching coach Carl Willis allow Uehara to construct his own program for spring training. The 41-year-old righthander has played professionally for 18 years and knows what works for him.

“We’re talking about someone who has been real successful for a long period of time,’’ Farrell said. “He has a true understanding of what he needs. We rely on that.’’

Said Uehara: “The coaches totally agree with the way I prepare. They let me pitch in those minor leagues games. Reading about whether I faced major league hitters and that being a problem, well it’s not. I don’t feel it’s that important.’’

Weather concerns

Wednesday night’s game started 12 minutes late because the field needed tending after afternoon rainfall. But the temperature at first pitch was 60 degrees, 26 higher than on Tuesday.

Prior to the start of the game, Indians officials were discussing the possibility of a doubleheader on Thursday. That had the Red Sox looking into what pitcher they would add to their roster as the extra player. But those plans were shelved once the game started.

More rain is forecast for Thursday. The Sox do not play in Cleveland again this season, so every effort would be made to get the game in.

Striking performance

Four Red Sox pitchers combined to strike out 15 on Tuesday. The team did that once all of last season, on Sept. 1 against the Yankees when Rick Porcello fanned 13 in eight innings and Noe Ramirez two more in the ninth. It was the most on Opening Day for the Red Sox since at least 1913 . . . Mookie Betts has homered on two consecutive Opening Days. In the last 20 years, the only other players age 23 or younger to do that are Andruw Jones, Jason Heyward, Mike Trout, and Andruw Jones . . . Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr turns 98 on Thursday. Doerr was with the Sox from 1937-51, making the All-Star team nine times. He is the oldest living Hall of Famer . . . Lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez also celebrates a birthday on Thursday. He’ll be 23.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.