Bumping as Today's game marks the end of our long look down the schedule for the "three starter" era. The plan (as far as anyone knows) was to navigate a month to the return of Whitlock, Houck, and Sale in mid August.
So far:
6 starts - 1st spot - Bello. The Sox go 4-2 in games started by Bello. Somewhat inconsistent, but has to be considered a success.
5 starts - 2nd spot - Paxton. The Sox go 2-3 in Paxton starts. (They actually flipped Paxton and Crawford early on, getting Paxton an extra day's rest.) Again, somewhat inconsistent. Overall, the outcome isn't great, but this could have been 3-2 with more timely hitting/more effective relief.
6 starts - 3rd spot - Crawford. Sox go 3-3. Perhaps the most inconsistent of the 3, but he was partially victimized by a rain delayed game. For a pitcher expected to be a nominal 5th starter, this is acceptable.
4 starts - 4th spot - Pivetta as a bulk man/starter with an opener. Sox go 2-2. Pivetta was perhaps more consistent than Crawford and often provided more quality innings.
4 starts - 5th spot. "bullpen" game, using Murphy the anchoring pitcher/bulk man. Sox go 1-3 in those games. Not entirely surprising. This sport was essentially taken over by Sale on Aug 11, and he went 1-1.
Instead of trying to max out the Bello/Paxton/Crawford starts and limit the "bullpen" games (although Pivetta was essentially a disguised starter) they opted for a more or less regular progression through the rotation, with the off-days falling where they may.
Overall - 12-13. I have to think about this more, but I think this ranks this as a failure, although not a disaster we hope. First off, the losses are also attributable to bad defense and poor offense at times. Second, sure they got through the stretch until Sale's return without overloading anyone. Yet I think those 5th spot bullpen games could have been reduced, keeping the bullpen overall perhaps a touch fresher and giving the team more opportunities to win. Getting to the post-season may come down to a couple of games.
The white text is the original proposed schedule for how the team might fare in the 3 starter/injury era.
Greens are wins, Reds are losses, indents are notes and roster moves.
Innings are 1(ish) with starter and significant long/short appearances noted.
Bold is most pivotal pitcher, good in a win or bad in a loss (my subjective reading.)
July 14 @ Cubs Bello - Bello (6), Winckowski, Bernardino, Scott, Jansen (.1).
July 15 @ Cubs Paxton - Paxton (3), Scott, Rodriguez, Jaques, Walter (2).
Scott DFA'd (claimed OAK)
Jake Faria up from AAA (stretched out as a starter, last pitched 7/5.)
July 16 @ Cubs Crawford - Crawford (6), Jacques, Faria (2 - 65 pitches).
Faria DFA'd (Worcester)
Bleier back from the IL.
July 17 @ A’s Bullpen/Pivetta - Bernardino (2), Pivetta (6), Martin.
July 18 @ A’s Bullpen - Jacques, Murphy (4.2), Rodriguez, Bleier.
July 19 @ A’s Bello - Bello (4), Rodriguez, Winckowski (2), Jansen.
July 20 off
July 21 vs NYM Paxton - Crawford (4) Suspended Game due to Rain. (score 4-3 Mets)
Bello on Paternity List
Garza up from AAA.
Story and Kluber begin rehab assignments.
July 22 vs NYM (cont.) Jacques, Bernardino, Bleier (2), Martin.
July 22 vs NYM Crawford - Paxton (6), Winckowski, Pivetta, Garza, Jansen (.1).
July 23 vs NYM Bullpen/Pivetta - Bernardino (1.2), Murphy (3.2), Winckowski, Rodriguez, Jacques, Martin, Walter.
July 24 off
Garza and Walter to AAA. (note: very light use of Walter recently.)
Schreiber off the IL. Bello off the Paternity List
July 25 vs ATL Bello - Schreiber, Pivetta (5), Bleier, Martin, Rodriguez (2).
Kluber begins rehab assignment.
Story begins rehab assignment.
July 26 vs ATL Paxton - Bello (6), Jacques, Schreiber, Bernardino (.1), Jansen.
July 27 off
July 28 @ SF Crawford - Crawford (5.2), Bernardino (.1), Winckowski, Martin, Jansen.
Jacques to AAA.
Llovera (acquired from SFG) called up.
July 29 @ SF Bullpen/Pivetta - Paxton (5), Bleier, Llovera, Jansen.
July 30 @ SF Bello - Bernardino, Schreiber (2), Murphy (3.1), Winckowski (1.2), Bleier, Martin, Llovera.
Jacques called up.
Rodriguez to 15 day IL (hip), retroactive to the 29th.)
July 31 @ SEA Paxton - Pivetta (7.1), Jacques.
Aug 1 @ SEA Bullpen - Bello (6), Martin, Winckowski, Jansen.
Sale begins rehab assignment at AAA.
(Note: Trade Deadline)
Aug 2 @ SEA Crawford - Crawford (5), Schreiber, Bleier, Llovera.
Aug 3 off
Aug 4 vs TOR Bullpen/Pivetta - Paxton (5), Llovera, Jacques, Bleier.
Houck begins rehab assignment at AAA.
Aug 5 vs TOR Bello - Schreiber, Pivetta (4), Bernardino, Winckowski (1.2), Martin, Jacques.
Jacques to AAA.
Nick Robertson called up. (Acquired in E.Hernandez trade.)
Aug 6 vs TOR Paxton - Bernardino, Murphy (2.1), Llovera, Bleier (2.1), Robertson, Reyes.
Bleier DFA'd
Lamet called up.
Aug 7 vs KC Crawford - Bello (6.2) Winckowski (.1), Martin, Jansen.
Story returns from IL (goes 0-4 batting 3rd on 8/8)
Aug 8 vs KC Bullpen - Crawford (3.1), Bernardino, Lamet (2), Robertson (3).
Lamet DFA'd
Robertson to AAA.
Walter called up.
Barraclough called up.
Whitlock begins rehab assignment (expected to be short.)
Aug 9 vs KC Bullpen/Pivetta - Pivetta (5), Schreiber, Winckowski, Martin, Jansen.
Aug 10 vs KC Bello - Paxton (5.1), Schreiber, Winckowski, Martin, Jansen.
Sale Returns from IL.
Walter to AAA (unused in call-up.)
Aug 11 vs DET Paxton - Sale (4.2), Barraclough, Murphy (3).
Aug 12 vs DET Crawford - Bello (4.2), Bernardino, Llovera, Schreiber, Barraclough (2)
Whitlock returns from the IL (when the thread began his return was unknown, reporting is he will be used in a bullpen role.)
Barraclough to AAA.
Aug 13 vs DET Bullpen/Pivetta - Crawford (4.2), Bernardino (.1), Whitlock (2), Martin, Jansen.
Aug 14 off
(Note: from the beginning of the thread: Story, Sale, Houck in "mid august" possible return? Story actually back on 8/8, Sale on 8/10, as of 8/13 Houck is rehabbing with one more AAA start before a planned return "as a starter.")
Aug 15 @ WSN
Aug 16 @ WSN
Aug 17 @ WSN
(Note: the Gauntlet starts)
Aug 18 @ NYY
Aug 19 @ NYY
Aug 20 @ NYY
(Note: as of 8/13 Houck is rehabbing with one more AAA start before a planned return "as a starter for the HOU series.")
Aug 21 @ HOU
Aug 22 @ HOU
Aug 23 @ HOU
Aug 24 @ HOU
Aug 25 vs LAD
Aug 26 vs LAD
Aug 27 vs LAD
Aug 28 vs HOU
Aug 29 vs HOU
Aug 30 vs HOU