Ahead of Tuesday night’s game with the visiting Los Angeles Angels, the Red Sox made another slew of changes to the pitching staff.

One week after reinstating Richard Fitts from the 15-day injured list on May 27, the Red Sox optioned the right-hander to Triple-A.

Fitts’ start on Monday lasted just one inning. He allowed six runs, five earned, on four hits, including a trio of home runs, issued a walk and didn’t strike anyone out. The Red Sox were trying to stretch him out after his first start back — three shutout innings in Milwaukee on May 27 — but decided to pivot.

“We were in the middle of extending him, right, and to do it at this level, you know, after yesterday, it was going to be hard, so Hunter (Dobbins) will be in the rotation,” manager Alex Cora explained.

The Red Sox also placed Nick Burdi on the 15-day injured-list with a right-foot contusion, from making a play at first base in Monday’s series opener. The X-rays showed that the righty didn’t suffer a fracture, but the IL placement was necessary when he felt sore on Tuesday and they knew he wouldn’t be available to pitch “for a while.”

To fill their spots on the pitching staff, the Red Sox recalled righty reliever Zack Kelly, whom they’d previously sent back to Worcester when Fitts returned from his injury, and fellow righty Cooper Criswell.

Kelly entered Tuesday with an 8.25 ERA over eight appearances for the Red Sox. He began his season with back-to-back scoreless outings of two and one innings, respectively, but has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 12 hits, with three walks and 10 strikeouts across the subsequent six outings (nine innings). He owns an identical 8.25 ERA over 11 outings, also totaling 12 innings, in Triple-A.

Criswell spent most of the ‘24 season with the big-league club, working primarily as a starter (18 of 26 games), but he entered Tuesday with only three appearances for the ‘25 team between March 31 and April 6. After a scoreless inning in his season debut, he allowed a combined five earned runs over 3 ? innings in the following two outings. He’s had immense success with the WooSox, though, posting a 1.52 ERA over seven games (six starts), with 38 strikeouts and nine walks across 29 ? innings. He’s yielded eight runs, but only five earned, on 19 hits, and allowed just two home runs.

“Strike-throwing, the cutter is playing, so he’s in a good spot,” Cora assessed.

These latest moves come two days after the club placed Justin Slaten, one of their key bullpen arms, on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled Luis Guerrero from Triple-A.

David Ortiz says former Red Sox teammate is ‘perfect fit’ to be MLB hitting coach

On May 26, Héctor Gómez, director of communications for Ministerio Deportes (the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Sports) posted a video of Manny Ramirez hitting to his X account with a quote from the famed slugger:

“I’m available to work as a hitting coach for any of the 30 MLB teams. I’m confident I can help any team significantly improve their offense.”

On Monday, the famed slugger and 2004 World Series MVP got a glowing endorsement from a fellow Red Sox legend.

“I saw it,” David Ortiz said of Gómez’s post. “Manny is one of the most, one of the smartest person that I have in my life when it comes down to teaching people how to hit.”

Ortiz, who was hosting his annual celebrity golf tournament for his foundation, the David Ortiz Children’ s Fund, recalled having “magnificent” conversations about hitting with his longtime teammate.

“Manny helped me out so much, to fix my mechanics, to slow down on pitchers,” the Hall of Famer recalled. “He’s a master. He’s a genius.”

Ramirez’s 19-year MLB career included 12 All-Star seasons, nine Silver Slugger awards, the batting title with the 2002 Red Sox, and World Series championships in ‘04 and ‘07. He led the majors with 165 RBI in ‘99, and outpaced the rest of the American League with 43 home runs in ‘04.

“I tell you what,” Ortiz continued, “if I’m an organization that wanna teach the young blood how to stay put, how to learn how to hit, Manny is the perfect fit. He loves it, he loves teaching. I mean, you can see the videos that he posts. And that’s what the game needs nowadays, to be honest with you.”

A perfect fit for any organization, with one notable, pinstriped exception.

“No, don’t go there, Manny!” Ortiz said of the New York Yankees.

Crawford’s comeback on pause

Kutter Crawford (knee) was supposed to pitch live batting practice this week, but the Red Sox had to press ‘Pause’ when the right-hander felt “wrist pain,” his manager announced on Tuesday afternoon. Crawford has been working at the club’s spring training complex in Fort Myers, Fla. but is scheduled to fly to Boston to have his wrist checked out.

“Hopefully nothing serious,” Cora said. “They’ll check on him. He says that it’s nothing serious but we just want to make sure.”