BOSTON — Joe Kelly doesn’t have much — if any — job security right now.
The Red Sox haven’t decided whether Kelly will make his next scheduled start, manager John Farrell said before Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. The right-hander has been inconsistent all season, and a poor performance in Tuesday’s series opener against the O’s cast more uncertainty over his future with the Sox.
“The primary goal is we’ve got to get Joe to deliver the ball more consistently,” Farrell said. “For a guy that’s that athletic, you would think his athleticism would allow him to repeat a delivery to command the baseball better.
“There’s no questioning that the walks are up a tick per nine innings, as are the hits. All of that suggests the command in the strike zone is inconsistent. We’re working to get that ironed out more.”
Kelly, who allowed five earned runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings Tuesday, entered Wednesday with a 5.67 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He’s been among the worst starters in Major League Baseball from a statistical standpoint. The Red Sox could send Kelly to Triple-A Pawtucket with the hope he improves as a starter — the 27-year-old has minor league options remaining — or shift him to the bullpen, where his pitch arsenal might play better.
Kelly has been exclusively a starter since being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at last year’s MLB non-waiver trade deadline, but he has experience as a reliever. He served as a closer in college, spent time pitching out of the bullpen in the minors and made 30 relief appearances for the Cardinals in which he posted a 3.25 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and a 3.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 52 2/3 innings.
“That path hasn’t been selected,” Farrell said Tuesday when asked if there’d be a benefit to moving Kelly to the bullpen. “The end game, or the end goal, clearly is to get him more consistent. How that path unfolds remains to be seen.”
If the Red Sox move Kelly to the bullpen, they’ll then need to decide who will take his spot in the rotation. Justin Masterson is an option, and Steven Wright could be a candidate after his 10-day option window expires, but Brian Johnson is the most intriguing choice.
Eduardo Rodriguez already made a successful jump to the majors, so perhaps the Red Sox will be tempted to see if Johnson, who has performed well at Pawtucket this season, can provide a similar boost to the big league rotation.
“You’re always looking at guys that either you capture some momentum with the way they’re pitching and look to insert them to get some contributions,” Farrell said. “I’d be the first to sign up if there was another Eduardo Rodriguez waiting to step in. But setting that aside, we’re looking at everything that’s available to us.”
While Kelly’s status within the Red Sox’s rotation is unclear, the club at least is considering a change. Boston is at an important point in its season and can’t afford continued inconsistency from its starters.
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
