Corey Kluber likely to get the nod as Red Sox Opening Day starter
We are two and a half weeks away from Boston Red Sox regular season baseball. Spring Training will be in the books and we’ll actually have games that count in the standings.
Typically on opening day, we see the best starting pitcher. The bonafide ace of the staff and the guy that’s going to be a shutdown all season long.
In years’ past, we’ve seen Chris Sale as the opening day starter. Granted, these starts were when he was fully healthy. But even though Sale is healthy going into the 2023 season, it doesn’t look like he’ll be getting the ball March 30 at 2:10 PM EST.
That’s going to Corey Kluber. Alex Cora will probably be going with the former Cy Young award winning veteran right-hander Kluber when the Red Sox open the 2023 campaign at Fenway Park against the Baltimore Orioles.
Boston Red Sox going with the dependable Corey Kluber
Let me make one thing abundantly clear: I know the Red Sox aren’t getting the Corey Kluber that won the 2014 and 2017 Cy Young award. But they are getting a Corey Kluber that is dependable when it comes to taking the ball every fifth day.
Last season with the Tampa Bay Rays, the 36 year old 6-foot-4 righty made 31 starts. That’s significant for a Red Sox rotation that has a lot of question marks.
Sure, the 4.34 ERA doesn’t make you feel completely comfortable. But 139 strikeouts in 164 innings should make you feel good about the type of pitcher Kluber can be for this team.
Thinking about the other options: Sale was told by Cora that he isn’t starting game one. Nick Pivetta doesn’t make a lot of sense. Plus, we can forget about Tanner Houck and Josh Winckowski as options.
Boston Red Sox using Corey Kluber to help Chris Sale with his return
The good thing about Corey Kluber being with the Red Sox this season in particular is that it helps Chris Sale not feel as much pressure to come right in and perform.
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We can be honest with ourselves here Red Sox fans. Chris Sale is somebody who we are struggling to be hopeful for because he’s been injured so much in the past three seasons. Making only two starts in 2022 definitely doesn’t help his case either.
That’s why Kluber being here helps Sale in his process to pitching a full season. It gives the Red Sox another veteran arm to lean on while the tall, lanky lefty can progress back at his own speed.
Once Sale has his stuff together, and Kluber can show what he has left in the tank; that’s two guys that can be scary in a rotation throughout the regular season.
The bottom line with the Boston Red Sox naming Corey Kluber the opening day starter
This is a very good move by manager Alex Cora. Why put the pressure on Sale right out of the gate when you need him for the long haul?
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If you want to bet on Kluber opening day, you can in Massachusetts now legally. I’d be willing to bet the move pays off for the Red Sox for a potential opening day win against the Orioles on March 30.