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Boston Red Sox: Phillips Valdez posting remarkable results

By Jason Haskins

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Phillips Valdez #71 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 31, 2020 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 5-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 31: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Phillips Valdez #71 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 31, 2020 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 5-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Almost an afterthought heading into the 2020 season, Boston Red Sox reliever Phillips Valdez is proving to be a solid go-to guy in the bullpen.

Bright spots have been a rarity for the Boston Red Sox in the 2020 season’s first two weeks.

Mitch Moreland is one, raking at a .323 clip with six home runs. The first baseman had two on Sunday, including a walk-off two-run shot in a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Not factoring into the victory but delivering one of the better performances for Boston in 2020 is reliever Phillips Valdez. If you didn’t know a whole lot about Valdez entering the season, you’re likely not alone.

Red Sox fans are surely getting to know his name now.

Valdez has been tossing up goose eggs in the runs allowed department, sitting pretty with a 0.00 ERA in five appearances. The bullpen has been a (mostly) stabilizing influence in the season’s first two weeks.

After a debacle last Sunday in a 9-7 loss against the New York Yankees, the Red Sox staff allowed only nine runs in five games this past week, which is definitely encouraging.

Even better is that the Red Sox have won three of their last four, earning a minor celebration two weeks into the season.

Part of that late-week success can be attributed to Valdez, who has been a star in the middle innings. He’s helped limit damage after a starter’s rough opening and he’s also helped bridge the gap from starter to the Matt Barnes and Brandon Workman finish. (Which is a role Valdez might see more time in, considering Ryan Brasier‘s struggles.)

In 7.1 innings pitched, Valdez has allowed seven hits and a .259 BAA. He’s shown nice control, walking only two and striking out six.

In recent years, Boston has seemingly had a knack at picking up players from the scrap heap only to see them perform well. Brasier held that honor in the second-half of 2018 and Marcus Walden fit this description in 2019.

Valdez had only 11 major league appearances to his credit prior to this season, all with the Texas Rangers in 2019. He held a 3.94 ERA and struck out 18 in 16 innings pitched.

Before that, Valdez kicked around the Washington Nationals organization and was initially signed back in 2009 by Cleveland as an international free agent.

Boston Red Sox all-decade team 2010's: The starting infield. dark. Next

With only 16 career-appearances in the majors under his belt, it will be interesting to see how Valdez holds up. With the extra players on the roster, that’s likely why we’re seeing Valdez usually pitch every other game. Seeing as he’s been the best pitcher out of the pen, keeping his arm fresh as long as possible will only help Boston in the long run.

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