The Red Sox deliver an early Christmas present in 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his team's 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his team's 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 14: David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox delivers against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at Safeco Field on June 14, 2018, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)

Red Sox pitching staff goes the distance

This was a pitching staff that teams around the league should not only fear but envy. It doesn’t matter what night of the week you’re running into Boston, you’re gonna see a killer. Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, Nate Eovaldi, and Eduardo Rodriguez. There is not an off night in that rotation. Not to mention the relief staff shutting things down with Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly, and Craig Kimbrel.

Now a couple of those names may not be coming back in 2019 but we’ll forever be thankful for what they did in 2018. All season long these guys went in got the job done. When the game mattered the most, this pitching staff stepped their game up. In the postseason it didn’t matter what rest there was, these guys killed it.

When the lights were shining the brightest Porcello, Price, Sale, and Eovaldi all lent their services to the bullpen and would make relief appearances. In the World Series clinching game, it was Sale getting the final three outs. In the now historic game 3 of the World Series, it was Eovaldi throwing 97 pitches over the course of two days.

Porcello and Sale dominated all season long on the mound with teams never finding the answer to the test. And finally in the playoffs, David Price shook the demons that have haunted his career and he finally showed October who he was.

Craig Kimbrel had a spectacular season only to have an issue early in the playoffs, the World Series would correct that and he was back to his ways. Kelly was unhittable through the entirety of the playoffs and earned himself a nice deal from the Dodgers for his services. From start to finish, this pitching staff set the bar high and followed through.

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