Red Sox Notes: Rotation finally in place; 3 things we learned.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – It took them until the next-to-last day of spring training to get it done, but finally, the Red Sox have their starting pitching lined up for the first turn through the rotation.

Joining the previously identified trio of Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello – set to pitch the first three games – for the four-game series at Tropicana Field will be Hector Velazquez, with Brian Johnson set to pitch the second series opener in Miami next Monday.

“We feel that the matchup for Velazquez is better in Tampa,’’ offered Alex Cora, “and BJ’s better in Miami. Also, the rumor is, BJ can swing the bat. We’ll see. That was seven years ago (at the University of Florida), so we’ll see. (Monday is in a National League ballpark, where no DH is allowed, so the pitcher will have to hit).’’

For both Velazquez and Johnson, their spots in the rotation may be temporary. The Red Sox are expecting that both Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) and Drew Pomeranz (strained flexor tendon)  -- both of whom were placed on the DL Monday -- will return in relatively short order.

Rodriguez will throw a game in extended spring training Thursday and, according to Cora, “is on schedule.’’ It’s easy to expect that Rodriguez would re-gain his spot in the rotation by the time the Sox begin their first homestand of the season on April 5.

Pomeranz will ramp up to three or four innings Wednesday and likely will need only one more controlled game setting before building sufficient arm strength.

One starter who won’t soon join the rotation is Steven Wright, who underwent a follow-up examination with his surgeon in New York Monday and received a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection. The Sox then placed him on the disabled list, which means that he can’t yet begin serving his 15-game suspension, decreed by Major League Baseball last week for his involved in a domestic assault case last December.

‘’It’s not a setback,’’ insisted Cora. “It’s just part of the process. I think we’ve pushed him hard enough, but now, we’ve run out of time. We’re going make sure he takes his time. Whatever it is, it will be sooner rather than later. But we ran out of time, so he’ll be on the DL.’’

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3 Things we learned from the Red Sox’ 4-2 win over the Cubs

1-Rafael Devers escaped serious injury.

In the second inning, Devers attempted to score from third base on a poor throw from catcher Victor Caratini to pitcher Yu Darvish in the second inning, but went into an awkward slide at the plate. Devers avoided the tag and got in safely, but banged up his right knee when he hit the ground prior to his slide.

Initially, Devers was concerned.

“At first, I felt scared because there was clear pain in my knee,’’ he acknowledged. “I thought it was worse. But when I stood up, I felt that the knee was good.  It feels a little (painful) now, but with treatment, I’m sure that I’ll be ready for Opening Day.’’

Cora indicated that Devers will be held out of the Grapefruit League finale Tuesday as a precaution.

2-Rick Porcello came to camp intent on fixing his slider. He thinks he has.

Porcello allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings in the start, but got a lot of groundballs and liked the movement on his pitches.

And pitching line aside, he accomplished what he wanted this spring: improve his sinker.

“I feel like I’ve come pretty far in a month and a half as far as the sinker,’’ said Porcello, ‘’and executing it down in the zone. The work in camp has been good and I feel more than prepared for the season. So it was a good spring training, a good buildup.’’

3-Not long ago, Mitch Moreland told Cora he needed some more at-bats to get ready for the season. He got them, and ended on a high note.

Moreland collected two hits in three trips Monday night and is now hitting .302 with a .558 slugging percentage.