Red Sox’ Rotation Unchanged from Opening Day
By Blake Yagman
Despite having one of the worst rotations in the American League, the Red Sox’ starting staff remains the same.
What is next for the Red Sox pitching staff?
The reality of the Red Sox’ 2016 starting rotation has been stranger than fiction. Going into the second, post-All Star Game half of the season, the Red Sox rotation– at least tentatively– will remain exactly the same as it was on April 4th. For many Red Sox fans, this is the worst possible news they’ve heard since Dustin Pedroia failed to make the All-Star Game on Friday. Even after a clean sweep of the Rays this weekend, it is hard to remain optimistic about the state of the rotation going into the second half of the season.
Through the first half, the Red Sox (49-38) find themselves in second place in the American League East. While the team is only two games behind the Baltimore Orioles, the Red Sox can only keep pace if the pitching staff improves. This will be difficult, not only because the starters have been struggling, but because the team recently lost closer Craig Kimbrel until after the trade deadline on August 1st. The loss of the closer puts stress on an already flimsy rotation.
That rotation, after 86 games, looks as follows:
David Price, 8-6 with a 4.64 ERA and 130 strikeouts through 116 innings.
Clay Buchholz, 3-9 with a 5.91 ERA and 53 strikeouts through 80.2 innings.
Steven Wright, 10-5 with a 2.68 ERA and 94 strikeouts through 114 innings.
Rick Porcello, 11-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 97 strikeouts through 113 innings.
Eduardo Rodriguez, 1-3 with an 8.59 ERA and 21 strikeouts through 29.1 innings.
Flatly, Price has been passable and improving, he has had 10+ strikeouts and 6+ innings pitched in each of his past three outings; Wright has been fantastic, he is making his first All-Star game trip this season; Porcello has been better than anticipated and helped greatly by the Red Sox’ run support; and, finally, Rodriguez and Buchholz have been atrocious.
Atrocious is an understatement. Buchholz’ old issues of inconsistency have reemerged and worsened; and, John Farrell’s denial of his struggles have been frustrating Sox fans, amplifying angst over Clay’s starts. Buchholz had been replaced in the rotation by journeyman Sean O’Sullivan, who was actually pitching slightly better than Clay, just ended up on the 15-day disabled list with a knee sprain.
Rodriguez, who just turned 23-years-old, began the season on the disabled list with his own knee injury; for whatever reason, Rodriguez’ pitching and rehab coaches allowed him to adjust his entire windup to compensate for his injury.
Luckily, Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski is open and notorious about pursuing a starting pitcher. Dombrowski has dispatched Sox’ personnel and scouts, including VP Frank Wren, to view a myriad of starters. The list includes Oakland Athletics’ ace Sonny Gray, former Red Sox (and current Oakland A’s) lefty Rich Hill, Atlanta Braves’ phenom Julio Teheran, and Padres’ righty Andrew Cashner. Any of these starters is a huge upgrade over Buchholz or an injured Rodriguez.
There is a possibility that the Red Sox attempt to acquire two starters; there is a possibility they acquire no starters. For Papi’s sake, I hope they pursue every possible external option.
Next: Boston Red Sox Acquire Closer Ziegler from Arizona
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