The Boston Red Sox signed David Price this past offseason to be their newest ace. And he certainly still could be — he has made just five starts for the team, after all, and was very good in three of them.
But so far, the Red Sox’s best starting pitcher hasn’t been Price. It has been 31-year-old knuckleballer Steven Wright, who has allowed just four total earned runs over his first four starts of the season and posted a rotation-best 1.37 ERA.
Price seems highly appreciative of Wright’s contributions, telling a fan Thursday on Twitter that the right-hander “has been our ace.”
Some difficult decisions await Red Sox manager John Farrell once starters Joe Kelly (shoulder) and Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) return from the disabled list. Henry Owens likely will be bumped out to make room for one of them, but with the way Wright is pitching right now, the veteran knuckler has more than earned a spot in the rotation.
Wright picked up his second win of the season Wednesday night, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over seven innings in a 9-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves. He walked three and struck out a season-high eight.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
