If Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel could pitch every game, the Red Sox might be undefeated on the year. Sale has struck out 10 or more in seven straight starts, and is well ahead of pace for a 300-strikeout season. He has been more than up for the task of leading a rotation for a contender for the first time in his career.
Kimbrel is having the best season of his already-stellar career. The closer has struck out 17.3 per nine with only two walks. Kimbrel has not allowed a run since April 20. Mookie Betts is beginning to find his power stroke. David Price returns soon. Eduardo Rodriguez continues to hold down the number-two spot behind Sale. The Red Sox may be preparing to go on a big run.
While the starting rotation takes hit after hit behind Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers were in big need of someone to step up and take on more responsibility. Enter Alex Wood. The left-hander with a big curveball and deceptive changeup is now 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.
.@Dodgers Pitcher and NL Player of the Week @Awood45 joined #MLBTonight to talk about being locked in and learning from @ClaytonKersh22. pic.twitter.com/ePfZtf1djV
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 16, 2017
Wood struck out 21 in two starts last week. Whatever he’s learned from Clayton Kershaw — stick with it. The left-hander has always pitched well in the big leagues, and has a career 3.28 ERA in over 500 innings, so perhaps his run shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise.