Red Sox starting pitchers
Nathan Eovaldi’s 3.16 ERA would be the best of his career but his 4.55 FIP shows he hasn’t been nearly as efficient as he was when he finished fourth on the Cy Young ballot this season. Nate still strikes out over a batter per inning and does an excellent job of limiting walks but he’s been uncharacteristically bitten by the long ball. His 16 home runs are already more than he allowed last year and the most he’s allowed since 2016. Eovaldi is currently on the shelf with a hip issue but the Red Sox hope to get him back sometime around the break.
Nick Pivetta has stepped up to lead the rotation, going 8-5 with a 3.23 ERA. He was roughed up a few times early this season but over his last 11 starts, Pivetta owns a 1.95 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .184 average.
Many rolled their eyes when the Red Sox went bargain shopping for Michael Wacha but the veteran has been a tremendous pickup, going 6-1 with a 2.69 ERA. He’s doing it with a bit of smoke and mirrors considering his career-low 6.4 K/9 but he does a decent job of avoiding hard contact.
Rich Hill continues to defy Father Time. The 42-year-old isn’t going to blow anyone away with his upper-80s fastball but the crafty veteran is getting by on guile and gumption. Hill is prone to the occasional rough start when he can’t locate the breaking ball and can’t put hitters away with his not-so-fastball, but he’s been mostly good this season. Hill has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. His 4.09 ERA is just fine for a back of the rotation starter.
Garrett Whitlock started the season in the bullpen before moving to the rotation, where he’s been fairly ordinary with a 4.15 ERA and 8.8 K/9 over nine starts. He’s currently on the injured list but could return soon, possibly with a move back to the bullpen where he can reclaim his role as a lights-out reliever.
Injuries have tested Boston’s rotation depth. Josh Winckowski did an admirable job filling in for four starts (3.60 ERA) while Kutter Crawford and Connor Seabold have had mixed results. We can’t expect much from a spot starter aside from eating some innings.
Even when accounting for an early rotation shakeup and a few Triple-A call-ups, the Red Sox rotation ranks fourth in the AL with a 3.55 ERA and they are tied for the second-fewest losses with 18. This staff will only improve when they get healthier, including the impending return of Chris Sale, but it’s hard not to be impressed but what they’ve accomplished so far.
Grade: A-