Ross was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports. Ross was dropped from the Boston bullpen after failing to record an out in a four-hit, three-run appearance Friday against the Blue Jays, which inflated his ERA to 6.17 for the season. He'll be replaced by Steven Wright, who was recalled from Pawtucket to presumably serve as Boston's long man.

Ross was unable to get an out and gave up three runs on four hits in Friday night's loss to the Blue Jays. Ross had produced four consecutive scoreless appearances before Friday's meltdown. He has pitched relatively well since a allowing multiple runs in consecutive mid-April appearances, but overall he's permitted nine runs (eight earned) on 16 hits and four walks in 11.2 innings. If the Red Sox are considering more moves in the pitching staff, Ross has minor-league options and is a candidate for demotion.

Ross allowed a two-run homer in Saturday's loss to the Orioles. He's allowed homers in each of his last two appearances, surrendering four runs on five hits and a walk in three innings. Ross, who won a roster spot with a strong finish in training camp, still has minor league options remaining and is an obvious candidate for demotion should the Red Sox need to clear a roster spot.

Ross pitched two-thirds of an inning in Friday night's 19-inning win over the Yankees. Ross came on with one out and the bases loaded and allowed one of the inherited runners to score on a sacrifice fly, but escaped what could have been a bigger inning.

Ross has mowed down all nine hitters faced in his last three appearances, putting him back in the competition for one of the final spots in the bullpen, the Providence Journal reports. His scoreless inning Friday against the Braves featured punchouts of Nick Markakis and Freddie Freeman. Ross appeared to be on the outs earlier this spring, with knee soreness and being described as a "work in progress" by manager John Farrell. Well, his recent submission of work suggests someone who is past the knee soreness and is comfortable in the role of full-time reliever. He still has minor-league options left, something that may work against him when Boston makes out the roster that heads north, but Ross certainly will be in Boston at some point this season.

Ross (knee) threw an inning for Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday, ESPN Boston reports. Ross had been shut down for a few days with soreness in his left knee. Recent comments by manager John Farrell, who said Ross is a "work in progress," suggests the lefty should get used to pitching for Pawtucket.

Ross (knee) appears destined to start the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, the Boston Globe reports. It doesn't appear the development of knee soreness has anything to do with Ross opening up at Pawtucket -- it's performance related. Manager John Farrell said Ross hasn't shown a good finish to his cutter and that the coaches continue to work with him to improve his overall stuff. Having Ross open in the minors clears the way for Tommy Layne to claim a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Ross (knee) has been described as a "working in progress" by Red Sox manager John Farrell this spring, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. That comment paired with Ross' knee injury and that he's still trying to regain the cutter that made him effective out of the Rangers' bullpen in recent seasons could punch his ticket to Triple-A Pawtucket for the early part of 2015.

Ross will miss a few days with left knee soreness, the Boston Herald reports. Ross, who is competing for a spot in the bullpen, has allowed six hits and two runs in two innings over two appearances this spring. He has minor-league options remaining and could open the season at Triple-A.

Ross, who was used as a starter and reliever with Texas last season, is being viewed exclusively has a reliever with Boston, the Boston Globe reports. Ross is in competition for what appears to be one or two spots in the bullpen, depending on how many pitchers manager John Farrell wants to take north. The left-hander has two minor-league options remaining, which may factor into the final roster decision. Other lefty candidates include Tommy Layne and Dana Eveland.