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

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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

15 wins and 170 innings

Notching thirty starts is attainable, which means logging 170 innings pitched and collecting 15 wins isn’t a goal to be laughed at.

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Eduardo Rodriguez, in 2018, made quality starts in 18 of his 23 starts for the Boston Red Sox while collecting 13 wins. He tends to pitch 5-7 innings, quite the norm in this day and age. Rodriguez had six games in the regular season in which he gave up five runs, but never any more than that.

Averaging six innings per start would be a bonus and get him to the desired goal of 170 innings pitched. Rodriguez tossed 129.2 in 2018, second most in his career behind the 137.1 he pitched in 2017.

Individual wins for pitchers are not valued as they used to be, but still important. Bettering his mark from last season is doable, especially with the five-inning threshold he continually reaches.

Rodriguez had a 3-1 May last season with with 43 strikeouts, including a 10-K performance against the Texas Rangers. If he did this every month, Rodriguez could easily get 16-18 wins.

Still, even if Rodriguez delivered on the 170 innings pitched with an ERA around 3.00 but failed to get to 15 wins, all would not be lost. It would likely mean he’s holding up his end of the pitching bargain in 2019.