Not to look ahead of the SURPRISING Tampa Devil Rays of Saint Petersburg, but...
I haven't heard any rumblings about how Farrell plans to arrange the rotation after the All-Star break. Then again, I really don't pay much attention to the Boston sports media circus, either. So whenever some official word is released, post it here.
In the meantime, lets speculate!
First off, Sale is probably starting the All-Star game on regular rest. He won't pitch more than a couple innings, but this also means he'll be unavailable to take the mound in the first game of the second half. I say give him regular rest rather than rush him back. But the break is otherwise long enough that the Sox can order the rotation however they'd prefer.
Second, it's somewhat troublesome to have a MFY twin-bill on 7/16 when the Sox won't have an off-day until 7/27. I don't see any way the Sox can avoid calling up a spot starter, unless EdRo's knee is healed.
Third, it's somewhat arbitrary, but I'm considering EdRo a non-factor here, since he still doesn't have a timetable and is only up to 4 IP/G at AAA. However, three weeks is enough time for him to possibly round into shape and potentially be better than Porcello or Fister, even at 85%.
What I'd do is the following for the next few series:
7/11 All-Star Game (Sale)
7/12 off
7/13 off
7/14 v. MFY (Pomeranz - 6 days rest)
7/15 v. MFY (Fister - 9 days rest)
7/16 v. MFY (Sale - 4 days rest) + MFY (Price 6 days rest)
7/17 v. TOR (Porcello - 8 days rest)
7/18 v. TOR (Velazquez - ?)
7/19 v. TOR (Pomeranz - 4)
7/20 v. TOR (Fister - 4)
7/21 @ LAA (Sale - 4)
7/22 @ LAA (Price - 5)
7/23 @ LAA (Porcello - 5)
It seems really weird to me to have Fister ahead of Porcello, but I think it makes sense.
Fister doesn't have to worry about the MFY's LHH limited power carrying (too much) due to the series being played at Fenway. But also, Porcello has been a gopherball machine with a HR/9 of 1.5 driven by a consistent 1-2 bombs allowed per game rather than scattering them in clumps. And lastly, this sequence sets up EdRo to replace Fister somewhere in late July or early August on regular rest, once his knee is ready.
Kinda sucks to have to bury the reigning AL Cy Young winner as the #5 starter, but there you have it. Hopefully, eight days off will allow Porcello to throw a few bullpens and regain his 2016 sinker.
I haven't heard any rumblings about how Farrell plans to arrange the rotation after the All-Star break. Then again, I really don't pay much attention to the Boston sports media circus, either. So whenever some official word is released, post it here.
In the meantime, lets speculate!
First off, Sale is probably starting the All-Star game on regular rest. He won't pitch more than a couple innings, but this also means he'll be unavailable to take the mound in the first game of the second half. I say give him regular rest rather than rush him back. But the break is otherwise long enough that the Sox can order the rotation however they'd prefer.
Second, it's somewhat troublesome to have a MFY twin-bill on 7/16 when the Sox won't have an off-day until 7/27. I don't see any way the Sox can avoid calling up a spot starter, unless EdRo's knee is healed.
Third, it's somewhat arbitrary, but I'm considering EdRo a non-factor here, since he still doesn't have a timetable and is only up to 4 IP/G at AAA. However, three weeks is enough time for him to possibly round into shape and potentially be better than Porcello or Fister, even at 85%.
What I'd do is the following for the next few series:
7/11 All-Star Game (Sale)
7/12 off
7/13 off
7/14 v. MFY (Pomeranz - 6 days rest)
7/15 v. MFY (Fister - 9 days rest)
7/16 v. MFY (Sale - 4 days rest) + MFY (Price 6 days rest)
7/17 v. TOR (Porcello - 8 days rest)
7/18 v. TOR (Velazquez - ?)
7/19 v. TOR (Pomeranz - 4)
7/20 v. TOR (Fister - 4)
7/21 @ LAA (Sale - 4)
7/22 @ LAA (Price - 5)
7/23 @ LAA (Porcello - 5)
It seems really weird to me to have Fister ahead of Porcello, but I think it makes sense.
Fister doesn't have to worry about the MFY's LHH limited power carrying (too much) due to the series being played at Fenway. But also, Porcello has been a gopherball machine with a HR/9 of 1.5 driven by a consistent 1-2 bombs allowed per game rather than scattering them in clumps. And lastly, this sequence sets up EdRo to replace Fister somewhere in late July or early August on regular rest, once his knee is ready.
Kinda sucks to have to bury the reigning AL Cy Young winner as the #5 starter, but there you have it. Hopefully, eight days off will allow Porcello to throw a few bullpens and regain his 2016 sinker.