Last weekend’s decision regarding the rotation was an appetizer to another question that must soon be answered: Where does Justin Masterson fit into the Boston Red Sox’s plans?
Masterson, who has been on the disabled list since May 14, made his third rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Pawtucket. The right-hander thrived, allowing one earned run on two hits over six innings. He struck out six, walked one and retired 10 in a row at one point as the PawSox earned a 2-1, walk-off win.
The performance obviously was encouraging given that Masterson’s first two rehab starts — one at Pawtucket, one at Double-A Portland — yielded mixed reviews. But it offered little clarity as to which direction the Red Sox are leaning with regard to Masterson’s impending return. Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters in Baltimore before Wednesday’s game against the Orioles (after Masterson’s rehab start) that a decision on the veteran pitcher will be made Friday in Boston.
When the Red Sox decide Masterson’s fate, it’ll mark at least the second significant pitching decision of the week. The Red Sox decided Sunday to keep Joe Kelly in the rotation and shift Steven Wright to the bullpen, opting for Kelly’s ceiling as a starter versus Wright’s dependability in four starts. But in reality, the next decision should be less complicated than the previous toss-up.
There’s no way the Red Sox could feel comfortable inserting Masterson back into the rotation, even if the Toronto Blue Jays knock around Kelly on Friday night at Fenway Park. While Masterson pitched well Wednesday against minor league hitters, one shouldn’t ignore his 6.37 ERA in seven starts with Boston before landing on the DL with “shoulder tendinitis.” His velocity remains an issue and Kelly’s potential in the rotation is much higher than Masterson’s. It’s hard to imagine the Red Sox suddenly would reverse course and place Kelly in the bullpen to open a spot for Masterson less than one week after Farrell suggested Kelly has the potential to be a “dominant starter” for Boston.
Also, Wright pitched his way into Boston’s sixth starter role before Eduardo Rodriguez’s emergence — Rodriguez now is firmly entrenched in the Red Sox’s rotation, regardless of all other factors, after beginning the season at Triple-A — and the knuckleballer certainly deserves to be ahead of Masterson on any rotational depth chart despite the value of his versatility. Masterson admittedly has a more substantial track record than Wright, but the Red Sox, who entered Wednesday five games under .500 (27-32), need to take a “what have you done for me lately?” approach in order to salvage their season.
Thus, there are three paths for the Red Sox to seriously consider with regard to Masterson: place him in the bullpen, designate him for assignment or prolong his rehab stint through June 29 (the final date on which they’d need to make a decision based on the 30-day rule).
The third option simply delays the inevitable (a decision involving the former two options), but it’s perhaps the most logical avenue with there being no clear-cut role for Masterson on the big league club right now. If/when Masterson returns, the bullpen seems like his most likely destination, but even then, it’s reasonable to question whether he’ll succeed in such a role. It seems like an imperfect fit.
Masterson’s successful outing Wednesday definitely screamed, “Hey guys, don’t forget about me,” and the Red Sox surely haven’t forgotten about the 30-year-old. It’s just difficult to pinpoint his future.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
