Is Doug Fister pitching his way into the Red Sox' postseason rotation?

It may be premature to think about the Red Sox playoff rotation, given it's likely too soon to think about the Red Sox' playoff hopes. Only two days ago, some saw those as doomed and even after two wins over lowly Toronto, they're far from assured.

But at some point, the Red Sox are going to be potting which starters will be lined up for the playoffs and it's not outlandish to think that Doug Fister could be part of their plans.

Such a conceit would have been unthinkable only a few months ago when Fister was toiling for the Angels' Triple A affiliate in Salt Lake City, just one more veteran hoping for one more shot. He got his chance when the Red Sox claimed him off waivers in the final week of June.

At the time, the Red Sox' rotation had thinned with injuries to Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez and uncertainty surrounding David Price's elbow. At the very least, Fister was a veteran with a track record. Maybe, just maybe, he could offer some spot starts and some depth.

“We knew we were getting a guy with veteran presence,’’ said John Farrell, recounting the evaluation of Fister at the time of his arrival. “We felt like we needed to add to the starting depth. He understood that he would go to the bullpen (if the rotation became crowded), which he did. But he’s surpassed the initial expectation.

Better than two months later, Fister has become so much more than that. He gave the Sox seven more strong innings Wednesday in their 6-1 win over Toronto. In the final weeks of the season, he's improbably become the third most trustworthy starter behind only Chris Sale and Drew Pomeranz.

Eduardo Rodriguez continues to tease, flashing a brilliant start here and there, but remains mostly enigmatic and frequently uneconomical. Rick Porcello isn't the disappointment he was in his first season in Boston but is nowhere near the Cy Young award-form he showed a year ago and his propensity for giving up the long ball (35 homers allowed) is troubling.

Then there's Fister, who in 11 starts this season has compiled a 3.61 ERA and a 5-5 mark. And while two of his last three starts have come at the expense of last-place Toronto, he's also limited quality lineups like Baltimore, Cleveland and New York.

“He has been such a boost,’’ said Farrell. “Credit to Doug Fister, plain and simple. I think he’s gained a lot of confidence each time he’s taken the mound in the rotation. He had adjustments to make, and he did those. And he’s gone out and pitched as a veteran does. He knows himself, knows how to navigate traffic when it’s on the basepaths. You love the mound presence and the conviction. He’s earned that trust by the way he’s gone out and pitched.’’

It’s worth noting that of all the potential starters on the Red Sox staff, Fister is the only one who can claim a postseason victory.

Moreover, Fister is getting better as the season progresses. Over his last four starts, he’s 3-1 with a 1.50 and has pitched at least seven innings and not allowed more than two runs in any of them.

How rare is such a run? The only other pitchers in the American League who have posted four-straight starts of seven or more innings and two or fewer earned runs are: Sale, Corey Kluber and Dallas Keuchel.

Those three have something else in common: they’ll all be starting postseason games for their respective clubs this October.

Is it outlandish to think that Fister might, too?