8 MLB pitchers that need to deliver for postseason hopefuls
By Bill Felber
8 MLB pitchers that need to deliver for contenders
Replacing David Price
They may have traded away Mookie Betts and David Price, but don’t tell Boston fans that the Red Sox aren’t contenders in the AL East this year.
To truly contend, though, the Red Sox need their rotation – shorn of Price – to deliver. That means Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Nathan Eovaldi. Of greater concern, it also means a big season from Martin Perez.
Perez is in line to fill the team’s fourth starter role following his signing to a two-year, $12.5 million deal this winter.
A 29-year-old veteran of eight seasons, Perez has a career 53-56 record and 4.72 ERA, not exactly numbers a Sox fan would feel comfortable counting on. With the 2019 Twins, he went 10-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 29 starts encompassing 165 innings.
His 1.52 WHIP doesn’t isn’t likely to inspire confidence. He’s also a left-hander pitching in Fenway Park, and last season right-handers batted .293 against him with a luxurious .836 OPS.
On the plus side, Perez did strike out a career-high 135 batters in 2019. Beyond that, his one Fenway start last season went well. On Sept. 5 he beat the Sox 2-1, going six innings and allowing just two hits. The Red Sox apparently liked what they saw.