Red Sox Starting Pitching Showing Improvement

After the Boston Red Sox lost 5 of their last 6 games at the end of their homestead, I’ll be the first to admit then when I saw they were then headed on a road trip that included stops at two offensive powerhouses (Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners) and a stop in between to where they have almost no success (Oakland Athletics), many things worried me.

The biggest was the starting pitchers.

And to most everyone who follows the Red Sox, that should have been number one on the “Worry Chart”.

May 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

Wade Miley

(20) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Consternation should have struck after the first two games in Toronto: 7 runs given up in each game and between the two, the Red Sox scored a combined 1 run. Even the last game, one in which the Sox hit it big in the first inning and one in which Clay Buchholz showcased the “abominable haircut”, should have still worried fans of the team, despite them pulling out the win.

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The first two games in Oakland went from “I’ll take it” to “Oh my gosh what are we doing here?”

In game 1, the Red Sox pulled out a 5-4 victory over the A’s. Rick Porcello pitched well enough for the Sox to win but nothing special. Nonetheless, still a win. In Game 2, the result was a whole lot different. The A’s had a field day with Justin Masterson leading to a 9-2 loss for the Red Sox. Masterson pitched so bad that it lead to John Farrell saying this after it was revealed that he had inflammation in his arm: “We felt it was the right time to back him out of the rotation and insert Steven”.

Mar 7, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher

Steven Wright

(65) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at a spring training baseball game at

Ed Smith

Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

This likely could be curtains for Masterson if Steven Wright pitches well enough to stay in the rotation.

Masterson leaving the rotation is improvement but the largest source of improvement and confidence for the pitching staff has been these past 3 games: the last game in Oakland and the first 2 in Seattle.

The last game in Oakland provided a boost in confidence and tenacity for Wade Miley who up until that start was horrid. Against Oakland, Miley went 6.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 5 hits. The Red Sox won that game 2-0. With Miley having a great start and the Sox offense overcoming the wrath of Sonny Gray, a level of confidence had been built for the next series against Seattle.

In game 1 of the Seattle series, Joe Kelly arguably had his best start of the season by going 6.1 innings and allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits. The Red Sox won that game 2-1. In last night’s game, Clay Buchholz had his most impressive start of the season by going 8 innings while allowing 1 run on 3 hits. Clay would have won that game if it wasn’t for Farrell’s blunder at the end of the game.

And here’s where the improvement seriously impacts the team.

May 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s officially been three straight games in which the Sox starters have pitched well enough to win without much run support.

Woah.

Did I just say run support? Now there is a phrase no one has ever even thought about regarding the Red Sox this year. Two situations have led to the scarce usage of the phrase “run support”: the pitching gives up a ton of runs while the offense scores enough to top the opponent or the pitching gives up a ton of runs while the offense doesn’t score enough.

But I digress.

With a more aggressive approach on the mound, that could be what’s doing it for these pitchers.

With three straight starts in which the Red Sox starting pitching has been clutch, this could be the big break the Red Sox have desired since their train went off the track in mid-April.

After these last games in Seattle, which will provide a gut-check for these Red Sox, they go onto play the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels at Fenway: two teams that are in dire need of some offense. Then the Sox go on another road trip to face the Minnesota Twins and then the Rangers again. Even though the Twins are surprising many this season, this a perfect stretch for the Red Sox to build on and gain back some momentum in the AL East.

Apr 17, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Red Sox celebrate their walk off win during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

If the Red Sox can close out these last two games in Seattle with solid pitching performances from Porcello and Wright, the Red Sox will be ahead of the game when going back to Fenway to face the Rangers.