MLB Power Rankings: Which pitching rotation is the best in baseball?
By Phil Akre
7. Boston Red Sox
Let’s get this out of the way. Chris Sale has dominated this year (like most other years, too). He’s the owner of a 2.76 ERA, 0.960 WHIP and has 104 K’s in 75 innings pitched. Boom. Done. Chris Sale is good at baseball.
David Price hasn’t been himself this year, but he’s been a lot better of late. He allowed 26 runs through his first six starts. Woof. But, in his last four outings he’s allowed five. Through the season thus far, he’s allowed only six home runs.
Aside from the 1-2 punch of Sale-Price, Rick Porcello has rebounded from a disastrous follow up from his 2016 Cy Young season.
As of now, he is the owner of a 3.65 ERA and a beautiful walk rate of 1.8/9. Along with Price, he’s been stingy on the long ball. He’s surrendered just six through 74 innings.
Eduardo Rodriguez has been your typical ‘four-starter.’ Always has pretty good games, with an occasional rough outing, but an occasional start where he looks like an ace.
For one, he’s struck out 72 through 60.1 innings of work. He’s got a solid ERA of 3.88 and has walked just 20 through his 11 starts.
The only real downside of the Sox rotation is Drew Pomeranz. The guy has been rocked this season. He’s made it to the sixth inning just twice in his seven starts and allowed 21 free bases in 34 innings.
He gets a free pass this time. The rest of his bunch has been so darn good of late.