Boston Red Sox: Chris Sale and the tale of an inconsistent rotation
The Boston Red Sox have been playing well as of late, but could be even better with a healthy, consistent starting rotation.
It’s been the tale of alternating weeks–even games–for the Boston Red Sox.
One week, the Red Sox have one of the best rotations in the game. The next week, the bottom falls out.
And then there’s Chris Sale.
Sale (7-3) –as predicted–has been the anchor of the Boston rotation in 2017. The early season numbers and accolades speak for themselves: eight consecutive games with at least 10 strikeouts (tying his own record). A 2.89 ERA. 119 strikeouts and an opponent’s batting average of .201.
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Even Sale, though, has “struggled” in his last two starts. He has pitched 11 innings while allowing 16 hits and eight earned runs. Still, both games have been victories in which Sale has struck out 18.
A healthy starting pitcher will normally get 30-35 starts per season. The key word is healthy, a minor issue for Boston as they have used nine different starting pitchers this season.
The occasional bad start will happen. Finding out who is going to step up on a consistent basis is crucial to the Red Sox going forward.
The big five
Beyond Sale, Boston’s starting rotation has alternated between brilliant and horrendous, healthy and injured. If all can get rolling at the same time, this rotation will be feared on a daily basis.
Drew Pomeranz (6-3, 4.02 ERA) is the most recent of the starting five to get on a roll. In his victory over the Yankees, Pomeranz won his third straight outing.
The lefty has allowed only four earned runs in the past three games. During this span he has struck out 26 while allowing 17 hits.
Pomeranz has slid into the role vacated by the injured Eduardo Rodriguez. Before his injury, Rodriguez was finally putting all of his tools together. Posting a record of 4-2 with a 3.54, Rodriguez looked well on his way to having a breakout season.
The two pitchers Boston needs most are two veterans: David Price and Rick Porcello.
Price, with three starts since his return from injury, has given Boston a little bit of everything. His first start was average, his second like his former all-star self, and his third forgettable.
Porcello (3-8), meanwhile, labored through another outing. It will be officially listed as a quality start, but giving up six runs per game isn’t going to quite do the trick this season.
With Rodriguez out indefinitely, the Boston Red Sox will turn again to their minor league system to fill out the rotation.
Tapping into Pawtucket
Brian Johnson–recovering from a tweak of his right hamstring–will be back in a Red Sox uniform. He will take the mound against the Detroit Tigers this weekend.
Johnson’s last start was a five-hit, complete game shutout of the Seattle Mariners. Providing he’s fully healthy, Johnson’s ability to give the Red Sox six solid innings per game will help tremendously.
Outside of Johnson, the other pitchers Boston has tried haven’t performed well. Kyle Kendrick has a 12.96 ERA in two starts and Hector Velazquez gave up nine hits and six runs in his only start for the Red Sox this season.
Other options would include Henry Owens, who has 40 walks in 53 innings at Pawtucket or Shawn Haviland. Haviland is not exactly an up-and-coming star–he’s 31–but he’s thrown two complete games in the Triple-A this season and might warrant a look.
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Barring any significant injuries to the top four in the rotation, the Red Sox have the depth to fill necessary holes. Johnson pitching well would allow the Red Sox to not rush back Rodriguez. And if Porcello regains his 2016 form and Price finds consistently, Boston’s staff will be the best in the game.
By cementing those daunting “if’s”, we can get back to telling tales of standout performances and more importantly: a first-place team.