Red Sox Spring Training News: Nick Pivetta the starting rotation wild card
When it comes to the Boston Red Sox starting pitching rotation in 2021, the team will have some question marks and competition towards the backend of that rotation.
One pitcher vying for a starting role is 28-year-old righty Nick Pivetta, who is already impressing Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
With Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Richards and Martin Perez projected as starters 1 through 4 in absence of Chris Sale, Pivetta along with Tanner Houck and Matt Andriese will be competing for that No. 5 spot.
Pivetta, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a late-August deal for Brandon Workman and Health Hembree, is an imposing pitcher who could just put it all together this season and be one of those surprises in the rotation that the Red Sox are banking on.
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As previous seasons have proved, Cora’s team can never have enough starting pitchers and this one is already turning the head of the familiar new manager who is looking to turn his team back into a contender.
"“He’s worked so hard to put himself where he’s at right now physically, mentally, mechanics-wise,” Cora said, via MLB.com. “He’s a guy that’s open to keep learning and I’m happy he’s part of us. He did a good job toward the end of last season. He did a good job at the alternate [training] site and he just wants to keep improving. And this is a guy we trust, and like I’ve been saying all along, he’s one of those guys that has a lot of upside.”"
Pivetta certainly showed a glimpse of that towards the end of the 2020 MLB season when he went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two games pitched with the Red Sox. At 6-foot-5, 214 pounds, he showed just how much of a force he can be on the mound, but can he do it consistently?
Why Nick Pivetta is a wild card in the Red Sox starting rotation
He pitched just 10 innings in a Red Sox uniform, but the wicked slider he possesses along with his power is the making of a pitcher who could be highly effective as a starter if the team can unlock his potential and turn him into more of a consistent pitcher.
With the tools to be as dominant as he showed in his two starts with the team in 2020, Cora believes in Pivetta and his ability earn a starting rotation spot.
"“He proved it last year in a small sample size,” Cora continued. “I do believe the ability is there, the pitchability is there, the stuff is there. Just let him be himself, go out and compete and see where it takes us.”"
With Tanner Houck also showing he plans on securing his spot near the end of that rotation, where Pivetta takes the Red Sox could be a very good place with six or maybe even seven solid starters before Chris Sale even begins to return to the mound.
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In all, It’s a nice problem to have most certainly, but it is still early in Spring Training and things can still shape out with Nick Pivetta in the position of being the pitcher on the outside looking in, which ultimately will still be a good thing for the Boston Red Sox because if any of those making the starting rotation struggle at any point, there is a wild card in Pivetta making for an opportunity.
Again, a very good position to be in for a team with a starting rotation full of questions.