Brandon Workman, the Bowie High School Class of 2007 graduate, was given extra rest and didn’t make his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Anthony Ranaudo, one of Workman’s best friends in the Red Sox organization, took his place and earned the win as the Red Sox nipped the Reds 5-4.
Ranaudo gave up four earned runs and eight hits (two of them home runs) in six innings in place of Workman.
According to ESPN.com’s schedule, Workman is likely to make his next start on Aug. 18 against the Los Angeles Angels. The first pitch is set for 6:10 Eastern Daylight Time, and will be shown on DirecTV’s Extra Innings package.
Boston Globe sportswriter Peter Abraham interviewed Workman about his extra rest.
“The little extra rest should help me,” Workman said. “I’ve had a couple of tough ones in a row. I need to solidify some mechanical issues, too.”
In his last six games, five of them starts, Workman is 0-6 with a 6.35 earned-run average. In his last game, Workman yielded the game-winning home run to the Angels’ Albert Pujols in a 5-4 19-inning loss.
It’s been reported Workman’s velocity has dropped a couple of miles per hour this season, which can make a difference between a strikeout and a home run.
“It’s not an injury,” Workman said. “It’s more of hitting a wall and not being as sharp.”
Red Sox manager John Farrell said Workman is feeling the effects of pitching so much during the 2013 season and this year.
When added with his postseason experience and time spent in the minors, Workman has appeared in 37 games and pitched 105 innings. He pitched into September and October for the first time in his career last year.
It’s expected Workman will remain as part of Boston’s rotation for the remainder of the season.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Brandon Workman. (Photo provided by Boston Red Sox media relations)