5 candidates for the Red Sox’ fifth spot in the starting rotation
Will the fifth starter come from Pawtucket, the bullpen, or by trade?
The Red Sox are one man short of a rotation. It’s currently comprised four pitchers: David Price, Steven Wright, Rick Porcello, and Eduardo Rodriguez.
Clay Buchholz, who was the presumed No. 2 starter at the beginning of the season, has played his way out of the rotation and into the bullpen. After spending some time on the disabled list, Joe Kelly was demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on June 1.
But there’s no rush to name a fifth starter. The Sox can stick with four starters until June 18, due to off days in their schedule.
“Yes, the candidate pool is going to be internal,” John Farrell said Friday. “Clay (Buchholz), Elias, Joe Kelly, Henry Owens. Someone grab it.”
Here’s a refresher on those internal candidates, and an introduction to a possible external candidate who might also be in play.
Clay Buchholz: This season, the righty has allowed 12 homers, the most allowed by a Red Sox pitcher and the tenth-most in MLB. He has a 6.24 ERA in 62 innings. His 5.8 strikeouts per nine innings are the lowest of his career, and his 1.7 home runs allowed per nine innings are the highest of his career. Since moving to the bullpen, he has allowed no homers and three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Joe Kelly: Kelly suffered a shoulder impingement in April, and has started only six games this season, including three starts where he couldn’t get out of the fourth inning. Kelly’s 8.46 ERA is the highest among Red Sox pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched this season. His demotion to Pawtucket came after a 13-9 loss to the Orioles on June 1.
Roenis Elias: The 27-year-old lefty has made one MLB appearance in 2016. He threw 1 2/3 innings as a reliever against the Astros on April 23, and allowed four hits and three runs. In his six outings with Pawtucket, Elias has a 3-3 record, and has posted a 4.00 ERA with 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Henry Owens: Owens, 23, has a 5.11 ERA in his 12 1/3 innings in MLB this season. During that span, he struck out nine, walked 13, and allowed three homers. With Pawtucket this season, Owens has a 4-2 record with a 3.60 ERA, fanning 8.6 batters per nine innings. On Monday for Pawtucket, he threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run, a solo homer.
Someone else. Sonny Gray? The Oakland A’s righty has gone 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA in 2016. The 26-year-old has slumped significantly from his 3.16 career ERA. As noted by SFGate.com, Gray’s measurables like velocity and spin rate have remained roughly the same, but his location has been less precise. If the Red Sox want to enter the trade market, Gray might be a place to start.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com