When the Boston Red Sox go to bat in the top of the first inning on Friday, they’ll be facing a familiar foe in Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez spent the first seven years of his career in Boston, pitching in 159 games and registering a 3.83 ERA. He was a member of the 2018 World Series-winning team and started game four of the series.
Rodriguez declined a qualifying offer from the Red Sox after the 2021 season and eventually signed with the Detroit Tigers. The Red Sox received a draft pick because they failed to retain Rodriguez. The team went on to select Roman Anthony with the pick received as compensation.
The lefty pitched two solid years with the Tigers before opting out and signing with Arizona. Since joining the Diamondbacks, things haven’t gone smoothly. He registered a 5.04 ERA in 50 innings in 2024 and has a 5.40 ERA through 24 starts this season.
His most recent start was better, firing six shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He used a fastball-heavy approach that he might look to repeat against Boston. They might play into his opponent’s hands, though. Since the beginning of August, no team has had a higher batting average against left-handed fastballs than the Red Sox.
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Alex Bregman hasn’t faced Rodriguez as a member of the Red Sox, but he has had success against the southpaw in his career with the Astros. In 31 career plate appearances, Bregman is hitting .296 against Rodriguez with two doubles and three home runs.
The Red Sox start a three-game series with the Diamondbacks on Friday night.
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images
