BOSTON — Joe Kelly’s days in the Red Sox’s rotation could be numbered.
While Red Sox manager John Farrell gave no indication following Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles that Kelly will be removed from Boston’s rotation, the skipper also didn’t rule out the scenario when asked whether the right-hander would make his next start with the club.
“We haven’t had a chance to review all that,” Farrell said. “But we’re certainly well aware of some of the up-and-down path it’s been for Joe to this point.”
Kelly allowed five earned runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings in the Red Sox’s series opener against the Orioles. It marked Kelly’s second-shortest start of the season — he lasted just 1 2/3 innings May 25 against the Minnesota Twins — and served as another indication that perhaps the 27-year-old would be best-served transitioning to the bullpen, where his pitch repertoire might be more effective. So far, Kelly’s secondary pitches have been a work in progress, limiting the advantage one would expect to gain from being able to throw a fastball in the high 90s.
Regardless of Kelly’s role, his command needs to be better. He could throw the first pitch of the ballgame or the last, but if he’s unable to locate his fastball, as was the case again Tuesday, he’s going to be in a world of trouble all too often.
“Just inconsistent command overall,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Kelly’s dud against the O’s. “There’s no questioning the stuff. It’s just the ability to stay with a consistent game plan because of the mislocated pitches.
“He’d miss off the plate, and then when he’d mislocate in the zone, it was a good pitch for them to square up. A high number of base hits indicates that.”
Kelly, who surrendered a three-run homer to David Lough in the course of suffering his fifth loss, has six starts this season in which he’s lasted five innings or fewer, tied for sixth-most in Major League Baseball. He’s allowed five runs or more in six outings, which is tied for the most such starts in the majors.
Kelly’s 5.67 ERA is the fifth-worst mark of all big league starters. He ranks 97th out of 101 starters with enough innings to qualify for the ERA crown, one spot below teammate Rick Porcello (5.61).
And while one can argue the merit of a pitcher’s win-loss record in today’s stat-driven society, it shouldn’t go unnoticed that Kelly has just two wins in 14 starts this season. One of those victories came in his first start of the season.
“I don’t think I’m pressing out there,” Kelly said. “I’ll have a couple of good (starts) and then a bad one and then a couple of good ones. It’s just something that I’ve got to go out there and be a little more consistent and just string (together) more than a couple (of good starts) in a row.”
Perhaps the Red Sox will stick with Kelly in the hopes he’ll establish some consistency. They already showed faith in his ability recently by opting to keep him in the rotation over Steven Wright. But it’s time to at least start questioning whether Kelly is cut out for life in the rotation over the long run.
The Red Sox have other options. And they might be better options at this point.
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
