UPDATE: The Red Sox will give Rodriguez another start in the rotation, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
The Boston Red Sox called up their top pitching prospect, Eduardo Rodriguez, to make his MLB debut in a start against the Texas Rangers. It appears general manager Ben Cherington didn't have to look far to find someone who could help the starting rotation.
Rumors earlier in the week suggested the left-hander could become a mainstay in the rotation, but now it could become a reality.
Rodriguez surrendered just three hits and two walks while striking out seven over 7 2/3 scoreless frames in Boston's 5-1 victory over the Rangers. The 22-year-old got the win in his debut and helped the Red Sox snap a three-game losing streak. Manager John Farrell said earlier this week the plan was to send Rodriguez back down to Triple-A Pawtucket, but the team may have other plans for the lefty.
Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald said there's "no decision in the immediate aftermath" of Rodriguez's performance, but Farrell said he hopes the left-hander makes his next start with the team. Prior to joining the Red Sox this week, Rodriguez was 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.097 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in eight starts (48 1/3 innings) at Triple-A Pawtucket.
"Farrell was noncommittal about whether Rodriguez would make another start, but Red Sox management, which has taken its share of criticism lately, would take another hit if Rodriguez spends another day in Pawtucket," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
Another positive is that catcher Blake Swihart has caught for Rodriguez at two different levels in the minors, so the two have already developed some sort of chemistry, which showed in last night's outing. Boston's rotation has made 48 starts this season and Rodriguez's outing featured the most shutout innings by a Red Sox starter thus far, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
"It was supposed to be a spot start for Rodriguez, a chance for the Red Sox to use a six-man rotation for one turn during a busy stretch of games. But Rodriguez foiled those plans. There's little chance the Red Sox will send him back to Triple A Pawtucket now," Abraham added.
The Red Sox rotation has improved under new pitching coach Carl Willis, but their ERA (5.02) still ranks 29th in the MLB. Perhaps the club will opt to keep Rodriguez on the 25-man roster to help lower that number.
