Red Sox pitching prospect Rubby De La Rosa, who has been coddled since returning from Tommy John surgery, is expected to stretch out to 70-75 pitches during his start Monday for Triple-A Pawtucket, according to The Pawtucket Times. De La Rosa has been around 50 pitches in his first five starts.
"Ultimately you want to protect his arm because of the surgery he had,” Pawtucket manager Gary DiSarcina said, referencing the elbow surgery De La Rosa underwent in August 2011. "Rubby’s going to tell us when it’s time to stretch him out and he’s been telling us with his performance over the last outing or two. Sooner or later, you’ve got to release the reins."
De La Rosa has posted a 7.11 ERA and .229 opponents' batting average through his first five starts. However, his last two starts have consisted of six scoreless innings, which have included six strikeouts.