TORONTO — Steven Wright has been one of the best pitchers in the American League this season. In all but one of his nine starts, he has pitched at least six innings and given up no more than three earned runs.
At 31, Wright has been around professional baseball for a long time, but has yet to throw more than 148⅔ innings over a full season. That came in 2013, with most of the innings coming for Triple A Pawtucket.
“This is the most I’ve thrown this early on, but I feel good,” Wright said Sunday. “The staff here, they know how to keep you ready. They’ve seen it before with guys like [Jon] Lester and [John] Lackey, and I trust them.”
Because Wright throws a knuckleball, he sometimes gets sore behind his shoulder but usually not with his elbow. He believes that will help him pile up innings.
“The routine I’m in now in terms of my body is good,” he said. “The training staff and strength and conditioning staff has kept me ready. I do something every day.
“As a starter, you know exactly when you’re going to pitch and that makes it easier.”
The day before a start is often a day off for many starters. But Wright was on the field at 11 a.m. Sunday to play catch and do some conditioning work.
It’s all part of his goal to get to 200 innings.
“That’s a big thing for me,” Wright said. “As a starter, if you can go 200 innings, good things will happen.”
Because of his age and experience, the Red Sox won’t have any limits on Wright. They want him on the mound every five days.
“Even though he’s relatively new to the big leagues, this isn’t a young guy. This is a veteran pitcher. We don’t have a threshold,” manager John Farrell said. “At this point, he’s open-ended.”
Wright is 4-4 with a 2.52 earned run average. He is third on the team in innings.
“Outstanding, a constant, very dependable — all the things that you would attribute to a quality starter, he’s doing that,” Farrell said.
Ortiz day-to-day
David Ortiz was scratched from the lineup because of a sore left foot. He was injured in the fifth inning Saturday when he was hit by a pitch.
The Red Sox said Ortiz is day-to-day. Ortiz stayed in the game Saturday, popping to shortstop in the seventh inning before hitting a go-ahead home run in the ninth.
First baseman Hanley Ramirez moved to DH in place of Ortiz. Travis Shaw moved from third base to first base, and Josh Rutledge was put into the lineup at third base.
Left to wonder
With Brock Holt on the disabled list with a concussion, Blake Swihart has been the primary left fielder. Farrell left open the possibility that Swihart could keep the job even once Holt returns.
“That’s probably going to be dependent on how the offensive capabilities are of those who are [on the roster]. That’s yet to be determined,” Farrell said. “If [Swihart] swings the bat, we could find Brock back in more of a utility role.
“When Brock has been given fairly regular at-bats, he’s been a very productive offensive player. That’s going to determine it.”
Swihart has looked sharp defensively, as Holt did when he was in left field.
Holt was hitting .239 with a .664 OPS when he went on the DL on May 20. Swihart is hitting .220 with a .657 OPS in 13 games.
Red Sox left fielders have a .698 OPS, below the American League average of .720.
Catching a break
Catcher Christian Vazquez has started the last four games and played in 10 consecutive games over 11 days. That’s a heavy workload for a player coming off Tommy John surgery.
Ryan Hanigan, who was unavailable for a few days because of a strained neck and illness, came in as a defensive replacement Sunday. It was his first action since Wednesday.
Farrell indicated Hanigan would catch Monday and Tuesday.
Replay woes
Farrell and several Sox players remained befuddled about a call that was not overturned in the eighth inning Saturday.
The Sox appeared to force Michael Saunders at second base when Xander Bogaerts stopped a ball in the hole and flipped to Dustin Pedroia. But Saunders was called safe and the replay did not change that.
Pedroia’s foot appeared to be on the base the entire time.
“Still looking for it,” Farrell said. “Our eyes, we had him out. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get seen the same.”
Greats honored
As part of their 40th anniversary celebration, the Blue Jays honored some of the best hitters in their history before the game. The group included Roberto Alomar, Jesse Barfield, Tony Fernandez, John Mayberry, Lloyd Moseby, and Vernon Wells . . . Umpire Mike DiMuro, who left Saturday’s game in the second inning after being hit in the mask with a foul ball, was not part of the crew Sunday. As is protocol for a potential concussion, DiMuro is being evaluated before he can return to the field . . . The Red Sox will host a “Dog Day at Fenway” event June 27. The park will be open from 5:30-8:30 p.m. for fans and their dogs. A dog park and pet-oriented businesses will be in the Big Concourse. Fans also can bring their dogs in front of the Green Monster for photographs. The World Series trophies also will be available for photos. Tickets are $10, with children under 14 and dogs free. Click here for more details.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.