James Paxton scare latest reminder of Red Sox' thin rotation
Sam Kennedy on Red Sox' approach to trade deadline
Putting together a starting rotation has been like a game of Whac-A-Mole for the Red Sox this season. Every time one issue seems to be settled, another pops up.
Saturday afternoon offered the latest evidence that the baseball gods simply are not going to allow the Red Sox to feel optimistic about their starting pitching for any extended period of time.
Brayan Bello was great again on Friday night. James Paxton was well on his way to another strong start Saturday, allowing one run and two hits through four innings. Those two were giving the Red Sox a 1-2 punch they could feel good about at the front of the rotation.
But then the bottom of the fifth rolled around and Paxton was not on the mound, removed from the game after just 63 pitches. The Red Sox later announced that he left the game due to right knee soreness.
Josh Winckowski, so good for most of this season, gave up three home runs after replacing Paxton to put Boston behind the eight-ball. The Red Sox came back to tie the game in the top of the ninth, but then lost 5-4 on Elvis Andrus’ walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
Paxton told reporters after the game that he thinks he’ll be ready for his next start, currently scheduled for Friday, but also revealed that the soreness actually dates back to his previous start.
“My knee was a little sore there,” he said. “It flared up last time in Minnesota. Just wasn’t quite back to where it needed to be today. I think I’ll be good going forward, though.
“We’re gonna have to do some stuff to work on it this week,” Paxton added. “Hopefully it gets back to neutral so I can get back to normal out there. … Just need to strengthen that up, get the inflammation out, and get ready to go for the next time out.”
The Red Sox have to hope Paxton is indeed ready to go on Friday, because they are quickly running out of options when it comes to filling out a starting rotation. At the same time, Boston has to be smart with the 34-year-old and keep the big picture in mind if the soreness continues to linger.
With Chris Sale and Tanner Houck both on the injured list, the Red Sox were already a starter short. They had to use an opener in Justin Garza on Thursday before turning to Brandon Walter for a 6 2/3-inning relief appearance in his major-league debut.
Walter was optioned back to Triple-A Worcester after that game, but already seemed destined to return this week for either a start or another long relief appearance behind an opener. What the Red Sox do if Paxton does have to miss a start is much more of a mystery.
There is no other obvious next-man-up in Worcester. Bryan Mata and Shane Drohan might be the most exciting names there, but both have ERAs over 5.00 this season as they try to find their footing at the Triple-A level. It wouldn’t seem like either is ready to be thrown into the majors yet.
Nick Pivetta could return to the rotation, but the Red Sox would understandably be hesitant to mess with the success he’s had in the bullpen, as Pivetta has a 2.16 ERA across 11 relief appearances after losing his spot in the rotation.
Chris Murphy started nine games in Worcester this season, but struggled in them and has also found much more success as a reliever. After two more scoreless innings on Saturday, Murphy has now not allowed a run through his first eight big-league innings, spread across three relief appearances.
Corey Kluber is sitting on the injured list with Sale and Houck, and had done nothing to earn another shot as a starter anyways.
Chaim Bloom could try to make a trade to acquire a starter as his team tries to push its way back into a playoff spot, but it may not be the best market for buying right now with still over a month to go before the trade deadline.
Paxton’s exit changed the tenor of Saturday’s game. Any sort of missed time would drastically change the whole look of the Red Sox’ rotation and put an already shorthanded staff in an even tougher spot.
Source: WEEI
