Drew Pomeranz's time with the Red Sox may be getting short.

Pomeranz was not himself again Tuesday night, lasting just 4.2 innings while giving up two earned runs on four hits and walking five batters in Toronto. In three starts since coming off the disabled list in Baltimore, Pomeranz has allowed eight earned runs on 14 hits in 14.1 innings while walking 12.

Boston is about to get healthier and will need to make multiple roster moves in the next couple weeks. Tony Renda will go to back to Pawtucket when Rafael Devers is activated Wednesday and Dan Butler will probably be designated for assignment to make room for Blake Swihart early next week. Beyond those, Boston will have to make two moves to activate Chris Sale and Ian Kinsler, making things a bit more difficult for Dave Dombrowski.

Sale will come back first for his start Sunday, meaning someone will be optioned to Pawtucket. Brandon Workman was the casualty last time and could once again be the odd man out.

Let's say that happens, giving Boston two days before Kinsler comes off the D.L. next Tuesday in Philadelphia. At that point, the Sox will have Devers, Kinsler, Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez all healthy for the first time. The plan at that point, according to Dombrowski, will be to move to 13 position players and 12 pitchers until rosters expand on Sept. 1.

Sale, Rick Porcello, Nathan Eovaldi, David Price, Brian Johnson, Craig Kimbrel and Matt Barnes are locks to stay with the club. Joe Kelly, Tyler Thornburg and Heath Hembree are out of options and will remain too. That leaves two 25-man spots for three pitchers: Pomeranz, Hector Velazquez and Ryan Brasier.

The decision then comes down to if Dombrowski is willing to send down either Velazquez or Brasier, who both have options, for a two-week period or cut bait with Pomeranz for good. Velazquez's versatility and 2.57 ERA make him almost a lock for the postseason roster. Brasier, who has drawn high praise from both Dombrowski and Alex Cora, has been a pleasant surprise since being called up in early July and will be in play in October, as well.

If keeping Velazquez and Brasier in the majors is important enough to Dombrowski, designating Pomeranz for assignment is the obvious move. He's not the pitcher he was in 2017 for Boston, and the club has plenty of rotation depth with Sale, Porcello, Price, Eovaldi, Johnson and the earlier-than-expected return of Eduardo Rodriguez around Sept. 1.

Pomeranz's 6.31 ERA on the season and 5.11 ERA since returning are not good enough to warrant keeping him during a roster crunch. With the Red Sox using Sale in his place Sunday and already having at least six starters ahead of him on the depth chart, Pomeranz's time in Boston may be up.