3 players who need to step up for Red Sox to make playoffs

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox pitches to the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Charlotte Sports Park on March 11, 2020 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

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Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images /

2. SP Eduardo Rodriguez

Rodriguez tested positive for COVID-19, bu the has completed quarantine and returned to team workouts. He had been likely to be the Red Sox Opening Day starter, but that delay is sure to postpone his first start of the season.

Rodriguez won a career-high 19 games in 2019, with a 3.81 ERA (3.86 FIP), a 9.4 K/9, a 3.3 BB/9 over a career-best 203.1 innings (and a career-best 34 starts). He finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting. In 2018 he had a similarly good season in less work (129.2 innings, 3.82 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 3.1 BB/9).

With question marks abound after him in the rotation (Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez, Zack Godley?, Collin McHugh), and Price and Sale out of the mix, the Red Sox need Rodriguez to become a stable ace and a de facto stopper this season. He seemed to find something last year, and if he can improve his walk rate he should be the No. 1 starter Boston so gravely needs.

Once he gets himself ramped back up to pitch as he typically would, the idea of using Rodriguez on short rest in this short season should be on the radar of manager Ron Roenicke.

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