The Red Sox have almost the same roster as last year's 108-win team, besides relievers Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel. So the struggling Red Sox's problem must be a depleted bullpen, right?
One Red Sox official doesn't think so.
On Monday, an anonymous Sox official told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, "I don't understand how the narrative is the bullpen."
The official might have a point. Red Sox starters have posted a 4.79 ERA this year, 20th in the majors. Last year, the rotation's 3.77 ERA ranked eighth in the MLB.
David Price (3.61) is the only Red Sox starter with a sub-four ERA. Ace Chris Sale, who has a career ERA of 2.98, has posted a 4.05 ERA in 2019. Rick Porcello's 5.61 ERA is a career-high, and Boston's rotating cast of fifth starters have all been duds.
All of the pitching struggles — between both the rotation and bullpen — come as the Red Sox offense has scored more runs than any team in the league. Whether or not it's the starters or relievers, the pitchers deserve every bit of the blame they're getting for Boston's disappointing season.
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