Red Sox's Bobby Poyner: Likely secures bullpen job

Poyner is the lone left-handed reliever on the major-league roster after the Red Sox optioned fellow southpaws Robby Scott and Roenis Elias to Triple-A Pawtucket, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Poyner qualifies as the surprise of spring training. He cleaned up last season at Double-A Portland, where he posted a 0.94 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with 52 strikeouts over 38.1 innings and then continued his fine work in camp. The unheralded lefty has allowed just three hits over 9.1 innings.