By: Peter Alves
We all know the three locked in guys: Chris Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello, but the other two spots are a question mark right now. It is a question mark because Drew Pomerantz got taken out of his spring training spot on March 2nd, and E-Rod and Steven Wright are both coming off of knee surgery. Drew Pomerantz pitched a 33 pitch bullpen session and E-Rod is supposed to pitch tomorrow in a simulated game. Wright pitched a three inning batting practice on March 17th and reportedly feeling great and he said, "He feels a drastic improvement and has a possibility to start in the rotation if this continues." (From Alex Speier from the Boston Globe) Cora also commented that he is comfortable Wright being in the bullpen because of his knuckleball. There are two other candidates to fill in if any or all three are not ready for Opening Day. The two are Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez. Johnson has pitched in 11 innings so far in Spring Training with a 2.45 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP while Velazquez has pitched in 10.1 innings so far with a 6.10 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. (Stats from baseball reference). Its Spring Training so stats do not really matter but clearly Johnson is doing better than Velazquez. They could always sign a freeagent like Alex Cobb for the rotation. Prediction: I predict that Dwew will be just fine for Opening Day and will be the 4th starter because he still has about one and half weeks, and he always has something with his elbow/forearm, but always comes and bounces back. I see E-Rod being put on the 10 day DL to start the year to give him more time so he can stay healthy for the whole year. Velazquez will be optioned down to AAA because he still has options down there for an emergency start in case Price's elbow acts up again, Pomerantz's forearm tightens up/he isn't ready to go or Sale/Porcello has a freak accident from now till Opening Day. I predict that Wright will not start the year in the rotation but if he has one more successful outing before the year and he is 100% to go, I can see Cora putting him in the bullpen for the time being, but if he is not ready to go, he will also be put on the 10 day DL. I also do not see the Redsox adding anyone from free agency because they will not be ready for Opening Day anyway because they have not thrown all Spring so the Redsox will have to wait till late April. I predict that the 2018 Redsox Opening Day starting rotation will be David Price, Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, Drew Pomerantz, and Brian Johnson.
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