Sox starters (34 ER in 4 games) bottoming out as playoffs loom

If the Red Sox’ rotation is suddenly as suspect as it’s looked this week, that division crown won’t prevent them from another embarrassing early exit in the Division Series.

For the better part of the season, this Red Sox team has succeeded mostly because of their pitching and defense.  It sure hasn’t been their offense – league-average, at best – that has catapulted them to the league’s third-best record and sole possession of first for the last third of the season.

Heading into Thursday, Red Sox starters had the league’s fourth-best ERA at 4.05, just slightly behind Houston (4.00) and the Yankees (4.02). They also lead the league in starter innings, which beyond the potential for burnout, suggests that, on average, Red Sox pitchers typically pitch deeper into games than any other group of starters.

But here in the final week, with the Sox looking to nail down first place, it’s been one poor outing after another.
On Thursday, Eduardo Rodriguez became the fourth straight Red Sox starter to allow five earned runs. He also became the fourth straight Red Sox starter to fall behind in the top of the first inning and the second to spot the opposition a multiple-run lead before Boston hitters could even approach the bat rack.

“It’s been a tough turn this time through,’’ conceded John Farrell. “The numbers speak for themselves.’’

And the numbers are butt ugly: 34 runs allowed over the last four nights, with 51 hits allowed. The starters ERA in the last four games: 12.56.

Is this any way to head into the playoffs?

After each beating, the starting pitchers in question – joined by Farrell – have cited a predictable cause for their struggles: inability to locate.

“There’s not a magic elixir to this,’’ Farrell said. “It’s a matter of going out and executing pitches.’’

If any of this is looking and sounding familiar, it’s not your imagination. The Red Sox went through a similar downward spiral in the closing week of last season, dropping five of their last six.

We saw how dangerous that could be when the Sox couldn’t flip the switch the following week and were summarily dismissed by the Cleveland Indians in three straight games in the Division Series.

Farrell was adamant after Thursday’s debacle that his team hasn’t been affected by complacency.

“I can’t say we’ve backed off the intensity,’’ he said. “We’ve found ourselves down early in ballgames. That’s been a hole that we haven’t been able to dig out of, with the exception of (Wednesday) night. This isn’t a matter of taking our foot off the gas, or trying to catch our breath.’’

Neither Rick Porcello nor Rodriguez has exactly staked his claim to a post-season rotation spot with poor showings the last two nights. But then again, it’s not like there are plenty of other options to consider.

With David Price ticketed for bullpen duty, the only other replacement possibility is Doug Fister, who starts Friday night.

But there are some consequences to the downturn by the rotation, especially the back-end candidates, that could impact the post-season roster composition.

“I think this turn through the rotation starts to make you think how our best pitching staff is best comprised,’’ Farrell offered. “(Whether) there’s length needed for a couple of guys…all those things are being brought into the mix. We recognize where guys are in terms of workload, the way they’ve thrown of late, early exits – that starts to factor in. Those are all things we’ll take into account.’’

What that could mean is someone like Fister, who might have been off the roster a week ago, could now warrant inclusion, in the event one of the other four starters is knocked out early and Fister is needed for multiple innings of long relief.

When you’re indirectly planning for worst-case scenarios in the playoffs, that generally doesn’t inspire much confidence in a pitching staff.

Suddenly, a lineup that tends to be streaky and doesn’t homer enough seems like the least of the Red Sox’ late-season issues.