Starting Pitching Is Boston Red Sox's Biggest Weakness So Far In 2016

After back-to-back last-place finishes in the AL East, the Boston Red Sox are back in contention for a playoff spot in 2016. Thus far, a corps of young players, as well as a herculean effort from the soon-to-be-retired David Ortiz, has led the team’s resurgence. Those outstanding offensive performances have helped to hide Boston’s biggest weakness thus far, which has been starting pitching.

To be fair, Steven Wright and Rick Porcello have both been excellent this season, giving the Red Sox a strong 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation. But beyond those two, Boston’s starting staff has been largely disappointing, including David Price, who makes a fine No. 3 starter, but does not give the Red Sox they thought they were getting when they signed him during the offseason. Despite pitching well as of late, Price has a 4.24 ERA, his highest since his first full season in the majors.

If Price can continue pitching well, the Red Sox will have a trio at the top of their rotation that matches up well with a majority of teams. However, the team has struggled to find pitchers to fill out their rotation. Boston has already used nine different starting pitchers this season, and the inability to find suitable guys for the back end of the rotation is why the Red Sox’s rotation ranks 10th in the American League in ERA.

The best potential solution for the Red Sox is Clay Buchholz, who is returning to the rotation after being sent to the bullpen in late May. Buchholz was a disaster early in the season, and there’s no guarantee his return to the rotation will be successful, despite pitching better of late out of the bullpen. Joe Kelly has also been a massive disappointment this year, following up a solid 2015 season with a 8.46 ERA in six starts. This has forced the Red Sox to send him back to Triple-A and search for starting pitchers elsewhere in the organization.

As long as the Red Sox have the trio of Wright, Porcello and Price, they should be able to stay in contention both the AL East and the Wild Card race. However, the rest of the team’s rotation has been dreadful this season, and if the Red Sox can’t find a way to rectify that weakness, it could ultimately cost them a spot in the postseason.