Will Rick Porcello have another solid season in a contract year with the Boston Red Sox?
The 2019 is a contract year for Rick Porcello. This means we should get the best possible version of the Boston Red Sox right-handed starter.
During the 2016 season, Porcello was dynamite. He won the AL Cy Young, was incredible at home, and led the Red Sox to the postseason. In 2017, he reverted to his old ways and struggled with the home-run ball and consistency. Last season, he was a workhorse, starting 33 games for the Sox.
But as we head into the 2019 season, what should we expect from Rick Porcello? We’ve seen what he can do, but will he put it all together? Will he struggle to avoid the home run ball? Can he stay healthy? Can he keep his ERA down?
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These question marks should be goals for Porcello as 2019 commences. Continue reading to discover more about what these could mean for the season.
Avoiding the home-run ball
In the past, one of Porcello’s problems has always been the home run ball. As a pitcher who relies on contact to get hitters out – especially through the sinker ball – he is often vulnerable to home runs. He has allowed 20-plus home runs in every season since 2015, including 38 in 2017. Clearly, if Porcello is going to excel in 2019, he will have to avoid allowing homers to opposing hitters.
I believe that he will be able to accomplish this based on the fact that he is becoming more of a power pitcher as opposed to one that pitches to contact. Additionally, since Chris Sale and David Price have joined the rotation, they have taken pressure off Porcello in terms of being the ace – despite the fact that Porcello has won a Cy Young award.
Continuing to stay healthy
Rick Porcello has made at least 30 starts in eight of his ten seasons as a big-league pitcher. In the two seasons in which he did not make thirty starts, he still made 27 and 28 respectively. So, needless to say, the guy is a workhorse and he is surely durability.
So for the Boston Red Sox to continue to capitalize on his reliability, they will need him to not only avoid the home run ball, but also continue to stay healthy.
Though it’s difficult to make being healthy a goal, Porcello’s longevity is still key to the Red Sox success. It’s clear that New York has a better bullpen, but Boston has the advantage in the starting rotation. Porcello’s health has a lot to do with that.
An ERA Under 4.00
Lastly, Rick Porcello should shoot to have an ERA under for 4.00. Since 2015, he has only had an ERA under that one time, which was of course when he won the Cy Young award in 2016. Given that Chris Sale and David Price will be relied upon heavily, it would only augment Boston’s chances at success if Porcello and possibly Nathan Eovaldi also posted tremendous numbers.
Should Porcello be able to achieve this, the Red Sox would likely have less pressure put on their bullpen, which many see as the glaring weakness of the team.
I believe that if he avoids the home run ball and stays healthy, Porcello can keep his ERA under 4.00 and help keep the Red Sox at the top of the American League