Mandatory Credit:
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Jake Peavy has had himself quite the spring, and not in a good way. He was the first injury of camp after being hit on the finger by a batted ball, and then further slowed his spring debut by slicing a different finger open with a fishing knife. However, the 32-year old is finally healthy and ready to begin his spring season; he is slated to start tomorrow’s game against the Minnesota Twins.
Assuming that he does not continue to suffer freak injuries, Peavy will open the season as the Red Sox’ fourth starter and should play a key role in the depth of the rotation in 2014. Peavy was solid, if unspectacular, after coming over to Boston last season. In 10 starts on the World Champion BoSox, the prized acquisition posted a solid 4.04 ERA to go with a 6.3 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 and gutted out a tough win in the clinching game of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Peavy is entering his contract year and likely will be in the last position of his career to sign a mid-range (three-four year) deal after the season. That makes 2014 an important year for Peavy, and he’ll have to pull out the metaphorical insect repellant to keep the injury bug away in the coming season. He isn’t off to a great start, but there’s plenty of time to turn that around– starting tomorrow. Hopefully these early injuries will be a non-story and Peavy will be at full strength come the regular season.