The Boston Red Sox gladly will take that guy every fifth day.
Joe Kelly has made 17 starts in a Red Sox uniform, yet he remains somewhat of a mystery, in large because his electric stuff hasn’t always translated into success. The right-hander silenced (at least temporarily) any cries for Boston to move him into the bullpen Thursday, though, as he flashed a new approach in keeping the Seattle Mariners at bay in the Red Sox’s 2-1 win at Safeco Field.
“I threw a lot more fastballs consistently where I wanted to,” Kelly told reporters in Seattle after Thursday’s series opener. “I put a lot of emphasis on fastball location today, and that’s what I went out there with and I tried to hit every spot I could with my fastball.”
Good plan. While Kelly can light up the radar gun, it’s become apparent that fastball location, command and consistency in his delivery are key components toward his potential success as a starter.
Reaching back for 100 mph heat is cool, in theory, and it might even work in Kelly’s favor if he ever transitions into a relief role. But the pitcher who toed the rubber Thursday in Seattle looked much more in control, much more at ease and much more like someone capable of being a consistent force in Boston’s evolving rotation.
“He didn’t overthrow the baseball,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “He was down in the strike zone, as evidenced by the number of ground ball outs he was able to get. He used a good mix of his secondary stuff to keep them off stride.”
Kelly struck out a season-low two batters Thursday despite lasting into the seventh inning for the first time since his season-opening gem against the New York Yankees on April 11. It’s surprising for someone who throws in the mid- to high-90s to produce such a low strikeout total, especially over the course of 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball, but it wasn’t discouraging in the least.
Kelly formed a game plan and executed it, generating 14 ground ball outs in what was an effective and economical performance on the heels of four straight starts in which he allowed at least five earned runs.
“It was (the product) of the effort level in his delivery. That’s what we’ve been trying to stress to him,” Farrell told reporters. “He was good through his lanes. He was staying through the glove. He had a lot of efficient innings and was able to get into the seventh fairly easily.”
Farrell turned to the bullpen with one out in the seventh inning after Kelly issued his third walk of the contest. Kelly’s pitch count sat at a reasonable 91, meaning he might have had some gas left in the tank, but it’s hard to fault Farrell for the quick hook given how often Boston’s starters have been doomed by one bad inning this season.
“Felt good. Felt strong,” Kelly told reporters. “I made some pitches when I had to. I feel like I’m getting better out there.”
The Red Sox will accept “better” at this point given how inconsistent the rotation has been for most of this season. The next step is to bring out Kelly’s “best,” which might be a little bit closer than originally anticipated if his new look — exchanging some velocity for better command — remains a focal point.
The mystery isn’t solved. But the case of Kelly just took a promising turn.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
