BOSTON — Of all the problems the Red Sox might have expected to face this season, the depth of their starting pitching was not supposed to be one of them.

Lack of power? That was fairly obvious. Questions over their middle relief options? A likely issue at some point. Overcrowded outfield group? No surprise there.

But for all the other potential landmines, running short of suitable depth among starters was not supposed to be in the forecast.

And yet, here we are in late April, and already, they find themselves scrambling.

Their two principal reserves — Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval — both began rehab assignments, only to run into setbacks unrelated to both having missed all of last season. Crawford, who missed 2025 with wrist and knee issues, now has irritation of the flexor tendon. Sandoval, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2024, is dealing with biceps tendinitis.

Those cases followed the news from earlier this month that Johan Oviedo, who was placed on the IL with a flexor strain in his elbow.

Finally, the latest development: Sonny Gray, forced out of Monday’s start with a hamstring strain that also landed him on the IL and will cause him to miss a couple of weeks minimum.

If the long list of maladies were taking place in July or August, that would be understandable. Pitching injuries are inevitable and the attrition of a long season catches up with every team at some point.

But during the second homestand of the season? Before May 1? That’s ominous, at the very least.

“We can talk all we want about pitching. Every team goes through it,” said Alex Cora. “Some of them are lucky enough that they stay healthy throughout. We’ve been getting tested. We’ve got to make decisions and the moving parts. All the guys (in Worcester) have to step up and become part of the equation, instead of just developing in the minor leagues. Now, somebody who (maybe) wasn’t on the map is on map, now. We’ll see how it plays out.”

To be sure, there are potential replacements at Triple A, including Payton Tolle, who has big league experience, and Jake Bennett, who doesn’t. Worcester manager Chad Tracy strongly hinted Monday that Tolle would be joining the parent club at some point soon.

At the start of spring training, the projected rotation included Garrett Crochet, Gray, Ranger Suarez, Brayan Bello and Oviedo. Before five full turns of the rotation, that group has already been upended.

Only weeks ago, the Red Sox could afford to stash Tolle and Connelly Early at Worcester at the start of the season, a chance for further development. But that was before Oviedo underwhelmed, creating an opening for Early in the rotation, with Oviedo consigned to the bullpen — but only for a short period, when a significant dip in fastball velocity and some elbow stiffness sounded the alarm.

The existing depth also meant that Crawford and Sandoval were going to be allowed to begin the year on rehab assignments, progressing at their own pace. But new physical ailments surfaced, stopping their comebacks almost before they began.

“It’s a lot,” acknowledged Cora. “But there’s some talented guys that can come here and help us win ballgames. It’s a long stretch here, with 13 (games) in a row and we have to be smart — not only with players that are in play now, but also the guys here. We take a lot of pride in taking care of them early on and making sure that we keep them healthy so they can actually help (us later), and keep fresh and keep growing.

“There’s a lot going on right now. I know that. But I feel like we’re in an OK place.”

Frankly, that remains to be seen. Apart from the injuries which are testing the Sox, there’s the matter of performance. Crochet has been oddly hittable in three of his last four outings while Bello remains as inconsistent as ever.

Now, by the end of the week, the rotation will be 40 percent rookies and 40 percent underachieving veterans.

A certain amount of upheaval was to be expected, as injuries are commonplace when it comes to pitching.

But this many, this early, wasn’t part of the plan.