Buchholz, perhaps to the surprise of some, is leading the AL in ERA at 2.45, as his mark has dropped by nearly two points per year since 2008. For that trend to continue in 2011, he'll have to give up about two runs a month.
While that may not be in the cards, the Red Sox definitely need a guy who is already so dominant in 2010. Despite being young, Buchholz has never been an innings eater, so his short stint on the DL may actually allow him to be fresh for the stretch run.
Josh Beckett, on the other hand, put up over 200 innings in three of his first four years with the Sox. He was never really right in his eight starts this year, with an ERA above 7.00, but with playoff experience and an ERA usually in the mid-threes, Beckett will be a crucial cog in a potential Sox postseason run.
So, whose return will have a bigger impact on the Sox starting rotation?
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