For the next few days, we'll be reminiscing on 2004, 2007, and 2013 Red Sox champions at each position and seeing how they stack up against their 2018 counterparts. Today, we discuss the No. 2 starters. . .
Pedro Martinez, 2004
Regular season: 16-9, 3.90 ERA, 227 SO
Playoffs: 2-1, 4.00 ERA
Year in summary: Performance wise, 2004 probably was Pedro's worst season as a member of the Red Sox. It was also his final season in a Sox uniform. But of course all that matters is Martinez was able to help Boston break the curse and bring home its first World Series title since 1918.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, 2007
Regular season: 15-12, 4.40 ERA, 201 SO
Boston Red Sox
Playoffs: 2-1, 5.03 ERA
Year in summary: Dice-K didn't quite live up to his lofty expectations. 2007 was the Japanese phenom's rookie season and while he was part of a dominant World Series-winning team, his disappointing year proved not to be an anomaly as he finished only two of his eight MLB seasons with an ERA under 4.00.
John Lackey, 2013
Regular season: 10-13, 3.52 ERA, 161 SO
Playoffs: 3-1, 2.77 ERA
Year in summary: Lackey was far from a fan favorite in Boston before redeeming himself in 2013. He was finally able to win Red Sox fans over with a solid regular season, followed by several gutsy performances in the playoffs.
David Price, 2018
Regular season: 15-7, 3.53 ERA, 171 SO
Year in summary: If you take out his starts at Yankee Stadium this season, Price has been fantastic. Of course, any regular season success at this point is irrelevant in the eyes of Red Sox fans if Price again can't get the job done in the playoffs as a starter.