Felix Doubront struck out three in two scoreless innings versus the Orioles on Sunday.

The Red Sox appear much happier with Doubront's conditioning this spring than they were when he showed up a year ago. He spent the postseason in the pen, but he'll almost certainly be the team's fifth starter to open this year.

Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox have "closely monitored" Felix Doubront's offseason conditioning program this winter.

They've also "encouraged him to return to the U.S. earlier than usual" after Doubront went back to his native Venezuela after the World Series. The left-hander has shown up to spring training out of shape two of the last three years, and he can't afford to do so again with a rotation spot on the line. Lauber writes that "a strong spring from Doubront could compel the Red Sox to pull the trigger on a trade involving either Ryan Dempster or Jake Peavy."

The Red Sox are planning to carry Felix Doubront over Matt Thornton for the final spot in their ALDS roster, a source told CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam.

Thornton is the proven reliever, but he's given up 22 hits and struck out just nine in 15 1/3 innings since coming over from the White Sox. The Red Sox will try Doubront instead and hope that his success starting carries over to the pen. They'll have three left-handed relievers in all, with Craig Breslow and Franklin Morales also occupying spots.

Felix Doubront will rejoin Boston's starting rotation this Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Doubront was skipped last week following Clay Buchholz's return from the disabled list. Doubront has struggled in recent starts and is not a good fantasy bet vs. Toronto.

Felix Doubront is slated to rejoin the Red Sox starting rotation next weekend against the Blue Jays.

Doubront will throw a side session on Sunday and a simulated game on Tuesday before returning to take on the Jays. Before his layoff, Doubront failed to make it out of the fourth inning in each of his previous two starts, and struggled mightily with his command.

Felix Doubront will rejoin the Red Sox' rotation, possibly as early as next week.

Doubront was skipped this week with Clay Buchholz back from the disabled list. The young left-hander hasn't been removed from the rotation, though, and it sounds like the club could go to a modified six-man rotation over the final weeks. "He'll get another start," said manager John Farrell. "We've just skipped him in this turn in the rotation. He'll get some side work with (pitching coach) Juan (Nieves). We have yet to determine when he's going to actually be inserted back into the rotation."

The Red Sox will skip Felix Doubront's next scheduled start.

Doubront has logged just 3 2/3 innings in each of his last two starts, and struggled to find the strike zone consistently in each. While they haven't announced that Doubront is completely out of the rotation, that could very well be the case. Clay Buchholz is returning to start Tuesday's series opener against the Rays in Tampa Bay, and will be followed by Ryan Dempster and Jake Peavy.

Felix Doubront was atrocious in a no-decision against the Yankees on Friday, allowing six runs on three hits and six walks in just 3 2/3 innings.

Doubront struck out two on the evening, but his overall command was horrendous. Alfonso Soriano tagged him for a two-run blast in the first inning, and the Bombers tacked on pairs of runs on in the second and fourth before chasing him from the game. It's the second straight start in which he's failed to make it out of the fourth inning, which is certainly worrisome. He'll try to get back on track against the Rays in Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Felix Doubront coughed up four runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the White Sox on Sunday.

He struck out four and walked one. Boston persevered and won the game despite Doubront's stinker, mostly because the bullpen held Chicago to two runs over 5 1/3 relief innings. Doubront has walked only three batters over his last three starts, and his last two outings were stellar, so we aren't going to panic over one dud. The left-hander stands 10-6 with a 3.89 ERA.

Felix Doubront allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a win over the Orioles on Tuesday.

Doubront has now reeled off two good starts his last two times out. On Tuesday, he gave up just four hits and a walk while striking out seven batters. The lefty is now 10-6 with a 3.74 ERA on the season. He'll try to keep it going against a struggling White Sox offense on Sunday.

Felix Doubront pitched eight innings of one-run ball in Boston's 12-1 drubbing of San Francisco on Wednesday.

That's as many innings as he pitched in his previous two starts combines. Doubront, though, has been a much improved pitcher this season, even with his strikeout rate down some. He's currently 9-6 with a 3.79 ERA. He's allowed more than three earned runs once in his last 18 starts.

Felix Doubront was blasted for seven runs (six earned) over four innings in a loss to the Yankees on Friday.

Doubront allowed eight hits, including a two-run homer by Mark Reynolds and a three-run shot by Alfonso Soriano. It was his most runs allowed in a start since May 8. The southpaw will attempt to bounce back next week when he takes on the Giants in San Francisco.

Felix Doubront spun seven shutout innings in Sunday's victory against the Diamondbacks.

He struck out five, walked none and scattered five hits. Because of his stuff, Doubront has the ability to toss a gem every time he takes the mound. Since mid-June, he's allowed only 13 runs over nine starts. Consistency -- and elevated pitch counts -- have both been problems, but the left-hander nevertheless stands 8-5 with a solid 3.56 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.

Felix Doubront allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Rays on Wednesday.

Doubront wasn't bad, as he gave up six hits and two walks while striking out five in the outing, but he was still saddled with his fourth loss. The lefty has been on a serious roll since mid-June, posting six quality starts and a 3-1 record over those seven starts. He'll take on the Mariners his next time out.

Felix Doubront won his third consecutive start on Friday, surrendering just two runs (one earned) on three hits over his 6 1/3 innings.

Doubront fanned five and issued three free passes on the night. After manufacturing an unearned run in the fourth inning, Chris Stewart's RBI double in the fifth was the extent of the damage against him. He's been brilliant in 12 starts since returning to the rotation on May 16, compiling a 2.59 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 63/30 K/BB ratio in 73 innings. He'll look to extend his winning streak on Wednesday against the Rays.

Felix Doubront twirled seven frames of one-run ball in a victory against the Mariners Wednesday.

He struck out five, walked two and scattered five hits. Doubront has now won both July starts after waiting more than a month between victories after June 1. The left-hander isn't a finished product, but he enters the All-Star break 6-3 with a 3.91 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 99 innings.

Felix Doubront pitched 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball in beating the Angels on Friday night.

The win was Doubront's first since June 1, though he had turned in three quality starts since that date, including one in which he pitched eight scoreless innings against Tampa Bay. His ERA has dropped from 6.40 on May 8 to 4.84 on June 8 to 4.11 now.

Felix Doubront allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision against the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Doubront wasn't overly sharp, as he allowed five hits and three walks while striking out six. The start in a lot of ways mirrored Doubront's season, as the southpaw has a 4.22 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 82 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings. He'll start again Friday against the Angels in Anaheim.

Felix Doubront permitted three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and four walks over five innings in a loss to the Tigers.

Doubront has worked on tweaking his mechanics in hopes that he'll have better control and be more efficient, but it didn't work in this one. Though he's pitched much better of late, the lefty still has a 4.33 ERA and 1.49 WHIP this season. He shouldn't be trusted against the red-hot Blue Jays at Fenway next weekend.

Felix Doubront fired eight scoreless innings, guiding the Red Sox to a 3-1 defeat of the Rays in the second half of Tuesday's doubleheader at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox won the first game on Tuesday afternoon by a score of 5-1 and are now 2 1/2 games up in the American League East standings. Doubront was brilliant, needing only 93 pitches to work through his eight frames. He struck out six, issued no walks and gave up just three hits. The left-hander will take a 4.38 ERA into his next start in Detroit. We wouldn't expect a similar set of results there.