BOSTON -- Mitch Moreland is expected to be ready for Opening Day Monday after a bout with the flu, Sox manager John Farrell said at Fenway Park on Sunday ahead of a team workout.
"He's cleared and good to go," Farrell said. "We're hopeful to get him on the field today and get some BP and really just start to get some activity under him after three days or so of being out of it."
The Red Sox and Pirates open the season at 2:05 p.m., with Rick Porcello on the mound.
Farrell declined to provide his Opening Day lineup, as the flu is still making its way around the team. Assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez is among the most recent to come down with it.
"I think there are some minor effects but I don't think to the point where we're going to be missing anyone tomorrow," Farrell said.
• Third-base coach Brian Butterfield is returning to that position for Opening Day, Farrell said. Butterfield had offseason knee surgery that kept him inside the dugout for spring training.
• Why did Steve Selsky make the roster as the 25th man?
Boston Red Sox
"The ability to play first base and a right-handed bat, particularly," Farrell said. "Both players when you consider the final spot in Marco [Hernandez] and Steve, they had outstanding spring trainings. Marco continues to blossom as a player and I think at the time we acquired him from the minor-league level, there was a lot of projection there. And he's grown into what you'd consider a potential for an everyday player. He handled yesterday's decision with a lot of professionalism, understood the circumstances.
"When you look at Steve Selsky, a waiver acquire, a waiver claim [from the Reds] that has proved to be a very versatile and from what we saw in spring training -- a productive bat. Limited number of at-bats at the big-league level but still productive and a good acquire."
Realistically, Selsky may not be in the big leagues long. Because...
• Hanley Ramirez played catch on Sunday and the target for him to be able to play first base remains later in the week in Detroit, facing lefty pitching. Ramirez has had a sore throwing shoulder that's kept him to the DH spot.