Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford is facing a knee injury as spring training begins, causing him to lag behind his peers. Despite the setback, there's optimism he could be ready for Opening Day. Concurrently, fellow pitcher Brayan Bello is recovering from minor shoulder soreness and has returned to throwing after a brief shutdown. Crawford's role for the upcoming season remains uncertain, with potential options including being a multi-inning relief pitcher or part of a six-man rotation alongside Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and others, to manage their workloads.

Last season, Crawford logged 33 starts with a 4.36 ERA and 175 strikeouts, but his 16 losses were the highest in the league. With the Red Sox adding some promising talent in the offseason, including Crochet and Buehler, expectations for the team's performance are rising after a .500 finish last season. The Red Sox will kick off their season on March 27, making Crawford's recovery critical for their pitching strategy.