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Predicting Boston Red Sox 2021 Opening Day starting rotation

By Scott Edwards

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox throws during a team workout on February 15, 2020 at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox throws during a team workout on February 15, 2020 at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox Nathan Eovaldi  (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox Nathan Eovaldi  (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Lock: Nathan Eovaldi

When Nathan Eovaldi signed a 4 year, $68 million contract following his excellent run in the 2018 postseason for the Boston Red Sox, you know that is all people would look at every time he stepped onto the mound. And in his first season with it in 2019, he was dreadful.

But what people won’t take into consideration is that when the Red Sox needed him in 2020, he did his best to show he was worth every single dollar.

The 4-2 record is pretty impressive when you take into consideration that the Red Sox went 24-36 on the season and finished in last place in the AL East. He absolutely shoved through nine games, finishing with a 3.72 ERA and 52 strikeouts.

Eovaldi sets himself up to be the No. 2 guy heading into this season because of the numbers he showed he could deliver in the short season.

Boston Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi set up for success in 2021

Eovaldi’s performance got better when the Red Sox supplied him with some offense, as he was nearly untouchable in three starts that the team gave him six or more runs of support, giving a 1.50 ERA in four games, while he saw some struggles in games that the offense wasn’t as much on his side.

He found great success with his mix of pitches in 2020 that he had no control of in 2019. The often 100-plus mile per hour fastball mixed with his curveball and splitter ended up being deadly at times. The hope is that this success continues and he will be worth every dollar that he is earning in a 162 game season.

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