The most exciting spring competition could be for the Red Sox fifth rotation spot. Eduardo Rodriguez, Brian Johnson, and Steven Wright all have a chance.
The beginning is always the hardest part of doing anything. Right now, the Boston Red Sox are still in the beginning stages of figuring out who they will be this season. Largely, their still the team that won the division last year. Thanks to a couple new faces, they have the potential to be so much more.
Locking down the rotation is always a part of the process of a team’s self-discovery. Unlike past seasons, the 2018 rotation was just about set as Spring Training opened. Chris Sale, David Price, Drew Pomeranz, and Rick Porcello, assuming he can recover from a dismal 2017, should control the first four slots.
That leaves a three-man race for the fifth spot. Eduardo Rodriguez, Brian Johnson, and Steven Wright will compete this spring for the job, with the runners-up likely heading to the bullpen.
Let’s break down the three options vying for the last rotation spot to predict which of these pitchers will lock up that role when all of them are healthy.