BOSTON — The Red Sox have scored a ton of runs — the second-most in the majors, in fact — through the first 21 games this season. That firepower should give them a chance to win a lot of games, even when their starting pitcher doesn’t give them a quality start.
At some point soon, though, Boston’s pitching, beginning with the rotation, will need to improve for the team to contend for a playoff spot and ultimately the World Series.
The Red Sox ranked in the bottom half of the majors in several pitching statistics entering Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park (MLB rank in parenthesis).
In two of their last three World Series-winning seasons, the Red Sox finished outside the top 10 in team ERA (12th in 2004, fourth in 2007, 11th in 2013), and six of the last 15 champions finished outside the top five in team ERA. So if Boston could climb into the top 15, it might be able to take control of a American League East Division that, at the moment, is full of teams playing mediocre baseball.
While the Red Sox bullpen also hasn’t performed to expectations, it’s difficult to criticize the group because of its heavy workload and guys entering games in roles they’re not accustomed to because the starter isn’t able to pitch five or more innings.
For example, Edward Mujica entered Tuesday’s 11-8 loss in the third inning after Clay Buchholz gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings. Mujica is supposed to be the guy in the sixth, seventh or eighth inning, not the third.
“You come out of spring training with the intent that you’re going to define roles as best possible,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Wednesday’s game. “So there’s a trickle-down effect from inconsistent outings as far as length from the starters. So, many times you’re going to the reliever who’s most rested rather than the matchup. Unfortunately, that’s been the case through different turns through the rotation.”
Boston starters have pitched five or more innings in just 13 of the first 21 games. The only pitcher in the last two turns through the rotation to throw seven or more innings was Justin Masterson on April 25 versus the Baltimore Orioles. If the Red Sox’s starters are able to go deeper into games, relievers will be used in roles they’re most comfortable.
“Bottom line is, we’ve got to do a more consistent job of throwing pitches to both sides of the plate rather than being as predictable as I think at times we’ve become,” Farrell said. “So, it’s basic fundamentals to pitching, yet we’ve got to go out and execute more consistently.”
Farrell later added: “The book is out on us as a starting staff, and teams will attack that. We’ve got to counter that.”
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
