Aligning the Rotation Down the Stretch

[Rudy's Curve]

The rotation is set through this weekend with Buchholz/Price/Porcello/ERod/Pomeranz. However, I'd like to see Price jump ahead of Buchholz and start Monday against Baltimore. That would make the rotation possibly look like this the last three weeks (days rest in parentheses):

9/12 vs. BAL: Price (4)
9/13 vs. BAL: Buchholz (6)
9/14 vs. BAL: Porcello (4)

9/15 vs. NYY: Rodriguez (4)
9/16 vs. NYY: Pomeranz (4)
9/17 vs. NYY: Price (4)
9/18 vs. NYY: Buchholz (4)

9/19 at BAL: Porcello (4)
9/20 at BAL: Rodriguez (4)
9/21 at BAL: Pomeranz (4)
9/22 at BAL: Price (4)

9/23 at TB: Buchholz (4)
9/24 at TB: Porcello (4)
9/25 at TB: Rodriguez (4)

9/27 at NYY: Price (4)
9/28 at NYY: Pomeranz (6)
9/29 at NYY: Porcello (4)

9/30 vs. TOR: Buchholz (6)
10/1 vs. TOR: Rodriguez (5)
10/2 vs. TOR: Price (4)

*10/4 vs. ???: Porcello (4)

Price would then jump over Pomeranz around the 9/26 off day to have him start twice in the last week (and Game 2 of the DS should they make it). This allows him to pitch five times the last three weeks without having to go on short rest. Having him precede Buchholz allows him to pitch twice against the Orioles who have been inept against LHP despite all their RH power.

I also used the last off day to jump Porcello over Buchholz. This would allow him to start the playoff game on normal rest although if he's able to do that on short rest, I'd rather Buchholz against the Yankees and Porcello against the Jays.

 

[phenweigh]

I approve of Rudy's plan. It maximizes the use of the aces without abusing them. It also brought to my attention that the Red Sox currently have 3 guys in the rotation whose last name ends in z.

If Wright returns to health, I think he should be moved to the pen. Give Steven a couple of low leverage appearances to ensure he's really OK. Then give him higher leverage appearances or consider a return to the rotation. The Sox can't afford trial run starts now.

 

[EricFeczko]

agreed
can...can we call this plan "p to the z"?

 

[Al Zarilla]

The killer Zs.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

The killer Zs.

I thought we weren't getting any more 10pm Buchholz starts?

 

[Al Zarilla]

I thought we weren't getting any more 10pm Buchholz starts?

Hopefully, the zzzzzs come from San Diego bats.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Buchholz has been moved up to start against Toronto on Sunday, instead of Pomeranz.

Guess they like a righty against Toronto and a lefty against Baltimore more?

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Buchholz has been moved up to start against Toronto on Sunday, instead of Pomeranz.

Guess they like a righty against Toronto and a lefty against Baltimore more?

The Jays lineup is fairly RHH heavy (Donaldson, Bautista, Encarnacion, etc) and Buchholz has had decent success in Rogers Centre and against the Jays in general over his career. It's a defensible move from that perspective.

 

[luckysox]

The O's have been pretty putrid vs. LHP this season (.235/.302/.389 as a team), with the likes of Jones, Weiters, Davis, Trumbo and Reimold being especially bad. Schoop, Pearce and Hardy have been eh, and Machado has, of course, hit them well, as has Rickard.

 

[joe dokes]

Buchholz has been moved up to start against Toronto on Sunday, instead of Pomeranz.

Guess they like a righty against Toronto and a lefty against Baltimore more?

It also uses the offday to get Pomeranz -- the only guy with at least a theoretical innings issue -- extra rest.

 

[Rudy's Curve]

I didn't expect it, but it's a good move. The Jays' active roster as defined by Fangraphs (excluding pitchers, it's a little off but mostly accurate) has them at 110 wRC+ vs. LHP and 101 vs. R. They're a tough out at the Rogers Centre regardless but especially tough on lefties there. The Sox gain a lefty in the first series against the Orioles but lose one in the second so it's a wash on that front. I'd still really like to see Price start Monday - that's the only way you can get five more starts out of him without short rest. Right now he'd be slated to start the playoff game but the schedule doesn't set up where they can get extra starts out of Porcello whereas they can out of Price and still have Porcello start the playoff game if need be.

 

[Curt S Loew]

I'd still really like to see Price start Monday - that's the only way you can get five more starts out of him without short rest.

Price will start Monday. They are moving Pomeranz to Tuesday with 7 days rest.

 

[Rudy's Curve]

Price will start Monday. They are moving Pomeranz to Tuesday with 7 days rest.

Excellent. This gives Price a chance to make five more starts on normal rest (with Porcello starting the playoff game if necessary) and both of them will face the Orioles twice.

 

[nvalvo]

Porcello's reliability makes him a very appealing option in a one-game playoff, to state the obvious.