Red Sox’ Connelly Early makes Opening Day roster — and there’s a twist in No. 5 starter competition

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox rookie lefty Connelly Early, after a strong showing in spring training, has made the Opening Day roster, sources said Monday, and he’s not the only candidate for the No. 5 starter job to do so.

In a late-camp twist, Boston will carry both Early and right-hander Johan Oviedo on their 26-man roster when the season begins Thursday in Cincinnati. The Red Sox announced after Monday’s game that they had sent four pitchers — Payton Tolle, Zack Kelly, Tyler Uberstine and non-roster invitee Tommy Kahnle — to Triple-A Worcester, leaving 13 healthy pitchers in camp, which ends Tuesday. It appears the Sox will carry both rotation candidates in an effort to provide length early in the season with Ranger Suárez and Brayan Bello still building up after pitching in the World Baseball Classic.

The scenario was first introduced as a possibility by manager Alex Cora late last week. “We’re talking about a few things, different scenarios,” Cora said Friday. “There’s conversations.

I can tell you that. Conversations, but nothing 100%. We have to think about the ‘now’ of the team and the future of the organization.