Boston Red Sox World Series 2018: Nathan Eovaldi has been team’s most reliable pitcher
By Oliver Gold
Nathan Eovaldi has been tremendous for the Boston Red Sox during the postseason and has been arguably the team’s most reliable pitcher. Alex Cora should keep the right-hander in the bullpen and use him the rest of the series.
The Boston Red Sox have many terrific pitchers on their roster and many expected most of them to perform well.
Most expected were Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, and Craig Kimbrel to carry Boston’s stacked pitching staff, but it has been someone else that has been the face of the Red Sox pitching staff so far in the playoffs.
Nathan Eovaldi has been absolutely sensational and has carried the Red Sox pitching staff so far in the postseason. Many knew the Red Sox needed somebody other than Kimbrel who could be counted on in late innings out of the bullpen and also somebody who could provide a quality start if Sale, Price, or Porcello were unable to go.
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Eovaldi has been that guy, and he has excelled in every situation he has pitched in. So far in the postseason, the right-hander has pitched in five games, starting two of them. He is currently 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA and has 11 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. Eovaldi pitched in the eighth inning in the first two games of the World Series and retired the Dodgers in order in both games.
With Sale, Price, Porcello, and Kimbrel all carrying an ERA above 4.22 at the moment, Eovaldi has been the Red Sox most reliable pitcher so far. Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, and Matt Barnes have also been fantastic, but it is truly remarkable that Eovaldi has yet to yield a run out of the bullpen in the postseason.
It is safe to say that the Red Sox would be in a much tougher situation currently if Dave Dombrowski didn’t deal for the hard-throwing right-hander this season.
Alex Cora should keep Eovaldi in the bullpen
Heading into the postseason, the Red Sox bullpen had a lot of question marks, as Craig Kimbrel was the only guy that many thought could be counted on. However, it has been the complete opposite, as Kimbrel has struggled the most out of the Red Sox bullpen. Kimbrel has done well so far in the World Series, but he struggled significantly in the ALDS and ALCS.
Sale, Price, and Porcello have not lasted very long in their starts, and the Red Sox bullpen has had to eat up a lot of innings. Brasier, Barnes, and Kelly have been great, but the team would benefit from having another power arm in the bullpen.
Eovaldi has done well so far as a starter, but his presence would be much more beneficial to the Red Sox out of the bullpen. He adds more power to the Red Sox bullpen and has the opportunity to pull through for the Red Sox late in games.
As of right now, the starter for Game 4 is currently undecided. If Game 3 is close in the late innings, Alex Cora should not hesitate to use Eovaldi and finding another starter for Game 4.
If Boston is able to win Friday, it would be a huge boost and a commanding lead. Drew Pomeranz or Eduardo Rodriguez could potentially start Game 4 Saturday, especially if the Red Sox are up 3-0. Chris Sale would also be an option, but that would force both him and Price to pitch on three days rest in their next starts.
Next. David Price is fixed. dark
Eovaldi’s presence in the bullpen is a huge boost for the Red Sox, and Alex Cora should take advantage of it. If the Boston Red Sox need somebody out of the bullpen to pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen this weekend in Los Angeles, Eovaldi should be that guy.