2016 MLB Preview: 5 Spring Training pretenders

SP Joe Kelly – BOS

Joe Kelly was a mainstay in the BoSox rotation for most of 2015. However, like every other starter excluding Clay Buchholz when he was healthy and maybe Eduardo Rodriguez intermittently during his 21 starts, he was a letdown.

Kelly, Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Henry Owens were ugly. All had ERA’s over 4.40, while Kelly was the only one who managed to somehow escape with a record above .500 (10-6). His 4.18 FIP didn’t do much for his cause either and suggests Kelly had a lot of luck and run support in his 10 victories.

He throws hard, with a fastball that sat at 95.5 mph in 2015. For some reason, that pitch plus the four other regular ones employed in his arsenal have never brought on a lot of success. Kelly’s career ERA is 3.82 and his FIP is 4.13. The oppositions .276 BAA last year was also the highest of his career. Currently, the 27-year-old has a 2-0 record in four starts this spring with a 1.38 ERA.

There’s a big reason the Red Sox dished out the money for David Price. Kelly is not the sole reason, but he’s a big part of why Boston’s rotation was a disaster in 2015.

Next: Mike Pelfrey