Red Sox starting pitching candidates for potential six-man rotation

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox high fives Nathan Eovaldi #17 and Darwinzon Hernandez #63 during a team workout on February 20, 2020 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox high fives Nathan Eovaldi #17 and Darwinzon Hernandez #63 during a team workout on February 20, 2020 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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NORTH PORT, FL – MARCH 6: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves on March 6, 2020 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
NORTH PORT, FL – MARCH 6: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves on March 6, 2020 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez

Eduardo Rodriguez was extremely missed after sitting out all of last season recovering from Covid-19 and myocarditis. The Sox are hoping they can get back the player who was a bright spot during a disappointing 2019 season when he posted a record of 19-6 to go with a 3.81 ERA. These could be similar numbers to expect him to put up once again considering he had close to an identical ERA in 2018 with a 3.82.

He is not expected to have any limits and looks to be primed to open up this upcoming season as the team’s ace. During Sale’s absence, he will be leaned on more than usual and an extra day off could benefit him to get back into the swing of things.

E-Rod is a pitcher who is known to throw a lot of pitches and challenges hitters by attempting to hit the corners of the zone. This sometimes hurts him when it results in walks but it also is what makes him such an effective pitcher. A 6-man rotation would allow him to go over 100 pitches no matter what the inning is and not have to worry about pitching four days later.

Rodriguez should be considered a major bounce-back candidate in 2021 and fans should be thrilled to have their big lefty back in the rotation.

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