The Red Sox starting rotation is officially set.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced Friday that Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock have earned the last two spots in the starting rotation, joining Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta and Kutter Crawford.

Cooper Criswell, who was also competing for a rotation spot, will be optioned to Triple-A and remain stretched out as a starter. Right-hander Zack Kelly is being optioned as well.

Houck and Whitlock have enjoyed strong performances this spring after being limited by injury throughout 2023. Houck has posted a 2.40 ERA over 15 innings with 16 strikeouts against only three walks while demonstrating notably improved velocity, and Whitlock has a 3.45 ERA over 15.2 Grapefruit League innings with 16 strikeouts and two walks. That doesn’t include his recent 5.2 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in a recent minor league game.

Houck, a former first-round pick, and Whitlock, one of the most successful Rule 5 picks in Red Sox history, have both long been viewed as future mainstays of the Red Sox rotation, but to this point haven’t met those expectations. Houck has often struggled to pitch deep into games and last season was limited by offseason back surgery before missing two months after being hit in the head by a line drive. Whitlock has also been plagued by injury, coming into last season rehabbing his surgically repaired hip before spending three separate stints on the injured list, including twice due to a right elbow issue.

Now the pair will get another chance to establish themselves as long-term rotation anchors.

Sox fall to Jays 5-1

Featuring a roster comprised primarily of minor leaguers, the Red Sox fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Friday afternoon. Enmanuel Valdez hit a solo home run to drive in Boston’s lone run, and Pablo Reyes also went 1 for 3.

Who’s up next

Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta will each make their final starts of the spring in Sunday’s split-squad games, with Bello facing the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton while Pivetta takes on the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers. Isaiah Campbell and Greg Weissert are also scheduled to take the mound against Pittsburgh, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m., and Josh Winckowski will follow Pivetta against the Twins, with first pitch slated for 6:05 p.m.