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Five critical individual stats Red Sox must improve in 2020

By Tim Starr

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 09: The Boston Red Sox stand for the national anthem before the home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on April 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 09: The Boston Red Sox stand for the national anthem before the home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on April 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 03: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox walks in the dugout before the game against the New York Yankees during game one of a double header at Yankee Stadium on August 03, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 03: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox walks in the dugout before the game against the New York Yankees during game one of a double header at Yankee Stadium on August 03, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Nathan Eovaldi was a hero for the Red Sox in the 2018 postseason. He got rewarded with a 4-year, $68 million dollar contract from Dave Dombrowski.

He made it four starts into the season before he needed to have loose bodies removed from his elbow and he was sidelined for the next three months. A stint in the bullpen and then back to the rotation in August was how Nasty Nate closed out his disappointment of a season.

All in all, he only made 12 starts on the season. Nathan also has to lower his 2020 ERA, 5.99 is not worth $17 million a year. He still had electric stuff in 2019, his average fastball velocity sitting at 98 miles per hour.

Eovaldi still possesses the pitch mix and velocity combination that caught the Red Sox attention. He is still the man that single-handedly saved the Red Sox bullpen in the 2018 World Series. He is still a pitcher that has the ability to dominate a game at any given night.

However, he has to improve headed into the 2020 season. For Nitro, the first key is health. His whole career has been mauled by injuries. If he can take the ball every fifth day and make 30+ starts, 2020 could be a special season for Eovaldi.

If he can regain his 2018 form and steer clear of the injured list, Nathan can become a front-line starter. Currently slotting in as the fourth starter, he has a chance to be a special back of the rotation pitcher and become a part of a four-headed monster of a rotation.

For Eovaldi, it all starts with staying healthy as shown by his 2018 postseason performance.

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