Boston Red Sox: So Far, So Good for Starting Rotation

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox reported to Spring Training with several question marks regarding their starting rotation. Many feel the team cannot succeed without an ace leading the way. But the staff’s performance through nine exhibition games suggests otherwise.

In Tuesday’s 5-1 Grapefruit League win over the Tampa Bay Rays, Justin Masterson took to the hill and pitched perfectly for the Sox. In three innings of work, the big righty did not allow a hit, while striking out four. Masterson has pitched a total of five innings so far this Spring and has yet to surrender a run.

Wade Miley was equally as impressive for the Sox in Monday’s tilt opposite the St. Louis Cardinals. He too pitched three scoreless innings. His command still needs some fine tuning after issuing a pair of walks in Boston’s 3-0 win, but there are plenty of preseason tuneups remaining to work on that.

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This past Saturday, in a game against the Minnesota Twins, Clay Buchholz tossed three scoreless innings of his own. Buchholz exhibited great command of his pitches and operated with intense focus on the mound. The introduction of the new pitch clock has forced the lanky righty to speed up his delivery. He’s said to be benefitting from the change. Buchholz began the Spring with a scoreless inning against Northeastern and is believed to be the front-runner to start on Opening Day.

In a start against the New York Mets on Sunday, Rick Porcello, blanked the opposition over three innings of work. He did allow four hits, but he was able to effectively minimize the damage, finishing with a pair of strikeouts. Porcello is at his best when he buries the ball in the strike zone. He did not allow a hit or walk in his Spring debut against Boston College.

Joe Kelly has been the only Sox starter to get off to a poor start. In Boston’s Grapefruit opener last Thursday against the Twins, Kelly was tagged for seven hits over 1 2/3 innings though, he did admit that his Springs are generally a rough go of it. In time, Kelly will work off the rust and locate his pitches with more precision.

After a week of game action, it’s hard not feel good about the direction in which the rotation is trending in. The Red Sox are 7-2 thus far this Spring, mostly due to brilliant pitching. Sure, these games may count for nothing, but it’s important for this group of pitchers to build up confidence and momentum ahead of the regular season.

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