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Boston Red Sox: 3 regular season goals for Eduardo Rodriguez in 2019

By Jason Haskins

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during the Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during the Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Entering his fifth season for the Boston Red Sox, it’s time for Eduardo Rodriguez to unleash his full potential on the world.

To be elite. A dream of many and obtained by very few. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez of the Boston Red Sox has a chance to be among the elite pitchers in the American League in 2019.

A full season and continued improvement could very well elevate Rodriguez into that upper echelon of starting pitchers.

In 2018, Rodriguez enjoyed a breakout season. Showing improved command and a nice strikeout rate, Rodriguez earned his full-time role in the rotation. He repaid the Red Sox by steamrolling through opponents the first half of the season.

Rodriguez started of 9-1 in 2018, lost his next two starts, but bounced back nicely in the starts after. On July 14 and a record of 11-3, Rodriguez found himself on the injured list thanks to an ankle injury.

Roughly six weeks later, Rodriguez was back on the hill in a September 1 start against the Chicago White Sox. The result was arguably his best start of the season, a 12-strikeout performance, scattering only three hits and one run over 5.2 innings.

After that start, Rodriguez had a few more in him but was mostly used in a relief role for the rest of the regular season. Overall, he finished the season with a 13-5 record in 23 starts (and 27 total appearances). Rodriguez finished with 146 strikeouts and held opponents to a .238 batting average.

A jump in 2019 can be expected for Rodriguez, especially if he displays the aggression manager Alex Cora desires of him. Here are three regular season goals for Rodriguez in 2019.

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