Just one day after making history by becoming the first player in MLB history to strike out 10 times in the first three games of the season, Rafael Devers topped himself by becoming the first player in MLB history to strike out 12 times in the first four games of the season. A new record, huzzah! Things obviously aren’t great in the batters box for Raffy, but before you suggest Rusneying him, know that the record Devers broke had been jointly held by Brent Rooker, who struck out 11 times in the first four games last season, only to end up finishing tenth in the AL MVP balloting. (Jon Couture, Boston Globe)

You of course have to wonder if being moved permanently to DH is having some negative mental effect on Raffy. But being moved permanently to the bullpen doesn’t seem to be a challenge for Garrett Whitlock. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

The bullpen was great in the opening series against the Texas Rangers. But if it ever starts to falter, there’s a reliever down in Worcester who has been in the Red Sox organization for a long time, and it looks like this might finally the be the year he makes his debut. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

With Whitlock moving to the pen full-time, that opened up some depth rotation spots. Richard Fitts did more than enough to earn one of those in spring training and looked mighty fine in his first big league start of the season yesterday — until his final inning. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

But the pitchers were hardly to blame for the series loss. The fact that Wilyer Abreu and Kristian Campbell are the only hitters providing any kind of spark is the bigger issue. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)