BALTIMORE — The Red Sox found a good solution for not having a reliable No. 5 starter: They’re not going to use one for a while.

With three days off scheduled before June 14, the Sox will not need a fifth starter until June 18. They’ll stick with David Price, Steven Wright, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Rick Porcello until the need arises.

“That’s the approach we’re going with right now,’’ manager John Farrell said on Thursday before the Orioles beat the Red Sox, 12-7.

The schedule works in favor of the Sox. Even with the four-man rotation, Price, Wright, and Rodriguez will each pick up an extra day off.

When the Sox do need a fifth starter, Farrell said the candidates would come from within the organization. That group will include Joe Kelly and Clay Buchholz. Other starters in the minors also could factor into the decision.

Kelly fell out of the rotation on Wednesday when he allowed seven runs over 2? innings against Baltimore and was sent to Triple A Pawtucket. Buchholz was dropped into the bullpen last week.

The Red Sox also could make a trade to bolster their rotation.

That they are not giving up on Kelly as a starter speaks to the lack of rotation depth within the organization. Kelly has a 5.00 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 41 starts for the Red Sox since being obtained from the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014.

Kelly took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on May 21 when he came off the disabled list. In two starts since, he has allowed 12 runs on 16 hits and six walks over seven innings.

““When he first came [off the DL] he had very good command,’’ said Farrell. “As that energy climbs, so does the number of balls thrown. That’s a matter of harnessing your energy and abilities. That’s what’s continually stressed.’’

Baby Bradley

Erin and Jackie Bradley Jr. welcomed their new daughter, Emerson, on Thursday in Boston. Farrell said he expected Bradley back in the lineup on Friday after three days of paternity leave.

Bradley also was named the American League player of the month for May. He was 37 of 97 (.381) with 15 extra-base hits and 24 RBIs over 27 games.

Bradley also ended a 29-game hit streak on May 29. He led the league in on-base percentage (.474) for the month and was second in batting average and slugging percentage (.701).

Bradley is the first Red Sox player to be named player of the month since Dustin Pedroia in July 2011.

“Well deserved. Outstanding month, outstanding player as he’s turning into,’’ Farrell said. “He’s been a main contributor to date. Proud of him, happy for him. He’s had a big day.’’

Red Sox teammates Xander Bogaerts and David Ortiz also received votes for the award.

Case dismissed

The Red Sox believe they understand the new slide rule at second base, which led them to challenge Manny Machado’s slide into Bogaerts in the fourth inning. It was their first such challenge of the season.

Machado did nothing dirty but slid past the base and toward Bogaerts, who held onto the ball and immediately asked umpire Cory Blaser to call a double play.

But after a speedy review, the call stood. Farrell said the Red Sox received an e-mail saying the slide was legal.

“To me, [Machado] clearly impeded the ability to complete the double play,’’ Farrell said.

Bogaerts said one of the umpires told him that not throwing the ball helped cause the Red Sox to lose the challenge. Nothing in the rulebook suggests that, however.

Rutledge was ready

With the Sox down by five runs in the eighth inning on Wednesday, Farrell had infielder Josh Rutledge start to warm up in the bullpen. But when they cut the deficit to four runs, Rutledge sat down and ultimately was not used.

Rutledge has never pitched professionally but was the closer for his high school team in Alabama.

“Fastball and a changeup,’’ Rutledge said when asked what he would have been throwing. “It has been a while since I pitched but I was willing.’’

The Red Sox have not used a position player to pitch since Mike Carp on April 24, 2014. He went one inning against the Yankees and walked five but did get three outs and allowed only one run in a 14-5 loss.

Holt in limbo

Brock Holt was transferred from the seven-day concussion disabled list to the 15-day DL, a procedural move required by MLB. He last played May 18 and is not expected back soon. Holt has started baseball activities but still has some symptoms when he moves his head quickly . . . The Red Sox weren’t the only team who demoted their starter after Wednesday’s interminable game. The Orioles dropped Mike Wright to Triple A Norfolk . . . The visitors’ clubhouse at Camden Yards has a large MLB logo hanging on a wall in the middle of the room. Mariano Rivera signed it in 2013 after his final game in Baltimore. Derek Jeter then signed the following year during his final season. In the time since, Miguel Cabrera added his signature along with Hall of Famers Al Kaline and Paul Molitor. Ortiz signed it on Thursday . . . Bogaerts is not the only Red Sox player with a hit streak. Ortiz and Pedroia each have 10-game streaks . . . Hanley Ramirez was 2 for 4 but has gone 57 at-bats without an extra-base hit.