The Boston Red Sox were thought to have one of the best starting rotations in baseball coming into the 2019 season. They were able to re-sign their big-name free agent, Nathan Eovaldi, after a terrific postseason, and he was supposed to continue to be a great arm to keep their rotation intact and complete.
However, that hasn't come to fruition.
Eovaldi hasn't pitched since April 17 after undergoing surgery to remove "loose bodies" from his elbow. With last year's normal spot start, Brian Johnson, also on the Injured List since early April, the Red Sox had to turn to a number of other options. And as Barstool Sports' Jared Carrabis has pointed out, the results haven't been very good.
Of the bunch, Velazquez has been the best but his numbers (1-3, 6.41 ERA, 15 K's, 11 BBs in seven starts) haven't been very good. And he is currently on the IL with a back injury.
It's clear that the team is sorely missing Eovaldi, but it's unclear if relief is coming soon. Eovaldi was scheduled to throw a bullpen last weekend, but he was sidelined with bicep tendinitis, according to Alex Cora.
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As long as Eovaldi is out, the Red Sox will continue to have trouble with the back-end of their rotation. And the back end of their bullpen hasn't been too good either, at least in the ninth inning.
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