Following Scott’s 2016 performance as a September callup — 7G, 6 IP, 0.00 ERA — many speculated why Scott was left off the postseason roster, or if he was simply having the stats he was because of unfamiliarity and not a lot of scouting done on the lefty. That was compounded by the ERA of lefty-specialist Fernando Abad, who waltzed his way to an ERA over six in 18 games with the Red Sox.
Abad struggled early this spring, while Scott has continued the pace he set last year with the Red Sox, compiling an ERA of zero in four innings while only giving up three hits. Abad also left the team this week to pitch out of the bullpen for the Dominican Republic.
If Scott can continue making the pitches he has and producing the kind of stats he compiled at the end of last season and through this spring, it could spell a tough decision for Red Sox manager John Farrell.
Would Farrell pass up the second chance to keep Scott on the major league roster in favor of Abad this time, or are we more than likely to see Abad break camp with the Red Sox no matter his stats in the World Baseball Classic or in spring training?
Via Jen McCaffery of MassLive.com, it appears that Farrell may value sticking with the team leading up the season over leaving in the midst of a position battle, something that could spell good fortunes for Scott with continued success while Abad is away,
"“You love the fact that his country looks upon him as a guy to contribute for the WBC,” manager John Farrell said. “He’s pitched four times; there’s been early-camp mixed results, which are not uncommon. But in those positions of competing for a spot, you’d like to think that a guy’s going to be here to make that mark here. He’s aware of his status on the roster competing for a spot. When he returns, it’s constant evaluating that’s going on.”"