But outside of Felix Doubront, no pitcher in Boston's rotation has more than eight wins, and three of them have losing records. If the Red Sox want to move up in the standings, they'll need their starters to turn it around.
Josh Beckett has a 5-8 record with an ERA of 4.53. If it wasn't for his first-inning ERA of more than 10.69, he'd likely have at least a few more victories under his belt. Assuming he fixes the early jitters, it's not improbable to expect Beckett to have a much more successful second half.
Doubront (4.24 ERA), as mentioned, holds the team lead in wins with a solid 10. He's tied for seventh in the league in wins, and as long as his sterling rate of 8.74 strikeouts per nine innings holds up, he should continue to pick up the victories.
Jon Lester is on the bump for Sunday's tilt against Toronto, and it's safe to say that the pitcher who once threw a no-hitter has been curiously absent so far this year. Heading into this start, Lester is 5-7 with a 4.80 ERA. To his credit, however, he's allowed three earned runs or less in five of his last eight outings — so perhaps there's still hope he can redeem himself.
Aaron Cook was the victim of a nasty gash on his knee earlier this year that sidelined him for nearly two months, but when he's been healthy, he's been very effective. He has a 2-3 record with a 3.50 ERA, but nearly half of his earned runs were allowed in his first outing against Baltimore. Since he returned from the disabled list in late June, he's posted a 2.16 ERA and a record of 2-2.
Finally, there's Clay Buchholz, who has recovered incredibly well from a horrific start to the year. He's 8-3 despite carrying a 5.19 ERA — but considering his ERA had spiked to 9.09 in early May, that number is better than it appears. Since that early May outing against Baltimore when he allowed five earned runs and four free passes in 3 2/3 innings, Buchholz is 5-2 with an ERA of 3.31.
Who will have the most wins among Red Sox pitchers this year?
