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Red Sox: Report Card at the All-Star Break

By Blake Yagman

Jul 3, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Brock Holt (12), center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25), and right fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Brock Holt (12), center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25), and right fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pitching: Grade D-

Before anyone explodes that the Red Sox earned anything but a failing grade, let me offer two words: Steven Wright.

May 25, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Steven Wright (35) reacts after the Colorado Rockies score a run during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Steven Wright (35) reacts after the Colorado Rockies score a run during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

The knuckleballer has been one of the very best pitchers in all of baseball; which is especially impressive considering Wright entered the season as the team’s fifth starting pitcher. Going into the All-Star break, Wright is 10-5 with a 2.68 ERA and 94 strikeouts over 114 IP. Wright has undeniably been the Red Sox ace this season; which leads to David Price.

David Price has been wildly inconsistent thus far in 2016; either way, Price has still been one of the Red Sox better starters. Although Price has one of his highest career ERA’s, he’s struck out 130 batters through 114 innings and has strung several excellent starts together headed into May. Price will improve, these are likely bumps in the road adjusting to pitching in Boston.

The back three starters of the Red Sox rotation have been similarly inconsistent. Rick Porcello has actually exceeded expectations this season, with a 10-2 record aided by fantastic run support. Porcello’s ERA is still hovering around four; the second half of the season will make or break the success of what has been a largely average season thus far. And, as many Red Sox fans know, the spots occupied by Clay Buchholz and Eduardo Rodriguez are no longer. Buchholz has been relegated to the bullpen and E-Rod returned to the minors.

Life in the Red Sox bullpen has not been as fun as previous seasons. While newly acquired closer Craig Kimbrel has been good, his ERA (3.55) this season is the highest it has been in his career (akin to David Price). But that should change. The rest of the pen has been a mess: setup man Koji Uehara has struggled mightily,  lefty Robbie Ross Jr. has an ERA near five, and the collection of Matt Barnes and Junichi Tazawa has been just eh.

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