Besides that, the only news regarding the starting rotation this spring is that Clay Buchholz is struggling and an injured Daisuke Matsuzaka is off to a slow start.
What does this mean for the state of the rotation? Will Francona turn to a six-man rotation upon Dice-K’s return to the mix?
One look at Baseball Reference points out that more (rest) is better for the majority of the Red Sox starters:
Four days rest
Beckett: 4.00 ERA, 1.269 WHIP, 3.03 K/BB ratio
Lester: 3.93 ERA, 1.334 WHIP, 2.68 K/BB ratio
Lackey: 3.82 ERA, 1.250 WHIP, 2.73 K/BB ratio
Matsuzaka: 4.63 ERA, 1.487 WHIP, 1.92 K/BB ratio
Buchholz: 5.88 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 2.08 K/BB ratio
Wakefield: 4.22 ERA, 1.312 WHIP, 1.83 K/BB ratio
Five days rest
Beckett: 3.90 ERA, 1.189 WHIP, 3.46 K/BB ratio
Lester: 3.10 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 2.43 K/BB ratio
Lackey: 3.61 ERA, 1.250 WHIP, 2.76 K/BB ratio
Matsuzaka: 3.62 ERA, 1.372 WHIP, 1.99 K/BB ratio
Buchholz: 3.71 ERA, 1.529 WHIP, 1.83 K/BB ratio
Wakefield: 5.54 ERA, 1.406 WHIP, 1.62 K/BB ratio
Six or more days rest
Beckett: 2.93 ERA, 1.129 WHIP, 2.78 K/BB ratio
Lester: 3.94 ERA, 1.421 WHIP, 1.68 K/BB ratio
Lackey: 4.44 ERA, 1.389 WHIP, 2.65 K/BB ratio
Matsuzaka: 3.47 ERA, 1.245 WHIP, 2.24 K/BB ratio
Buchholz: 3.60 ERA, 1.400 WHIP, 1.85 K/BB ratio
Wakefield: 4.20 ERA, 1.387 WHIP, 1.52 K/BB ratio