Red Sox Rotation Simply Not Performing

Well, Red Sox fans, it might be time to start sweating a bit. The rotation, the team’s expected strength going into the season, is starting to fall apart, quickly.

$217 million man David Price is getting closer and closer to a return, so that is good news, except we do not know what to expect out of Price. Price threw up to 95 mph in a 50 pitch simulated game, but we will not truly know how well he is doing until he is on the mound facing major league opponents.

Reigning Cy Young winner, Rick Porcello, has already surpassed his loss total from his terrific 2016 campaign, accompanied with an ERA north of 4.

The only two reliable arms in the starting rotation are Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez. Sale, has been better than advertised, and has dominated with both his overwhelming stuff and his epic presence whenever he takes the mound. It truly is refreshing to see a Red Sox pitcher with as much attitude as Chris Sale, as he truly owns the strike zone every fifth day.

24 year old Eduardo Rodriguez has struggled with consistency, so expectations should be tempered, but his stuff has been great to watch this year. After a tough start, in his last 4 starts, E-Rod has pitched 24 innings and has accumulated a 1.88 ERA in those starts.

Drew Pomeranz has taken a couple steps back after taking a step or two forward, putting up a 7.71 ERA in his last two starts, while also not being able to pitch past the 6th inning since August 30, 2016.

Steven Wright underwent season ending knee surgery, although he was not pitching well at all prior to the surgery. His replacement, Kyle Kendrick, posted an 0-2 record with a 12.96 ERA, and was sent back to Pawtucket, leaving manager John Farrell with a four man rotation, as of Saturday morning.

The Red Sox rank 21st in the majors in starter’s ERA with a not so good 4.42.

Whether it’s banking on David Price to return and give the Red Sox a much needed boost, or looking for an outside replacement, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has a tough decision to make.