BOSTON -- Prior to tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Josh Smith to the active Major League roster from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Travis Lakins to Pawtucket. Smith will start tonight’s series

BOSTON -- Prior to tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Boston Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Josh Smith to the active Major League roster from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Travis Lakins to Pawtucket.

Smith will start tonight’s series opener against the Rays and will wear No. 67. The Red Sox's 40-man roster is now at 38.

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.

Smith, 31, is making his first appearance on an active major league active roster since 2017, when he went 2-1 with a 4.89 ERA (19 ER/35.0 IP) over 26 relief outings with Oakland. In three starts for the PawSox this season, Smith is 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA (7 ER/16.2 IP), 23 strikeouts, and five walks. The right-hander most recently pitched on April 20 at Syracuse and allowed three earned runs in 6.0 innings, striking out six and walking one. In his previous start on April 13, also against Syracuse, he allowed one run and struck out a season-high 10 with zero walks over 6.0 innings to earn his first win of the year. The Florida native made his major league debut in 2015 with Cincinnati and is 5-8 with a 5.30 ERA (75 ER/127.1 IP) in 67 career major league appearances (nine starts) between the Reds (2015-16) and A’s (2017).

Lakins, 24, made his major league debut in the second game of the Red Sox’ doubleheader against the Tigers on Tuesday, striking out his first career batter faced and allowing one run over 2.2 innings. In six relief appearances for the PawSox this season, he is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA (3 ER/8.0 IP) and 10 strikeouts compared to just one walk. In 77 career minor league games (40 starts), all in the Red Sox organization, Lakins is 15-9 with a 4.39 ERA (109 ER/223.2 IP), 211 strikeouts, and 90 walks. Originally selected in the sixth round of the 2015 June Draft, he was added to the Red Sox’ 40-man roster on November 20, 2018 and attended his first Major League Spring Training in 2019.