BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox with the best chance of making the 2022 All-Star game

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts with Rafael Devers #11 after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 27, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts with Rafael Devers #11 after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 27, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 7
Next
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 03: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum on June 03, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 03: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at RingCentral Coliseum on June 03, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Red Sox starting pitchers

The biggest surprise of the 2022 Red Sox season has been the success of the starting rotation. The Sox went into the season knowing they could depend on 2021 All-Star Nathan Eovaldi, who has been fantastic except for one start against the Astros, but the other starters have been just as good.

Nick Pivetta got off to a rocky start this season but has settled in to become one of the games best number two starters, posting a 1.32 ERA over his last six starts. Michael Wacha meanwhile, has outperformed his peripherals to the tune of a 1.99 ERA, while Garrett Whitlock has fought through some early struggles to settle in nicely to the fourth rotation spot.

As good as the rotation has been so far, it’s likely none of the starters would make the All-Star team if the first half ended today. That’s because the American League is filled with both middling pitchers having career years and young ones breaking out.

The likely AL starting pitcher right now would be Martin Perez, who had a career 4.71 ERA entering this season, while Nestor Cortes (4.66 ERA entering 2022) and Paul Blackburn (5.74) are also having career seasons. As if that’s not enough, future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander has returned from Tommy John surgery with no ill effects, going 6-2 with a 2.23 ERA.

But what’s really been the story of the first two months of the season is the emergence of young starters around the league. 25-and-unders such as Alek Monoah, Shane Mclanahan, Logan Gilbert and Tarik Skubal have all taken the next step this season, each having a lower ERA on the Red Sox starter.

As good as the Red Sox starting rotation has been, none of the pitchers are All-Star worthy. Their numbers are more good than great, especially when compared with other American League starters. Yet, as we’re seeing with Pivetta, a good month can change everything, and each of these starters are six or seven great outings away from being right in the thick of an All-Star conversation.

Next. Re-grading every Red Sox offseason move. dark

Home/Red Sox News