Pomeranz to start Game 2, but Games 3 and 4 starters remain unclear

Some of the suspense surrounding the Red Sox’ starting rotation was erased Tuesday, but some still remain.

Manager John Farrell revealed that, as expected, Drew Pomeranz would start Game 2 of the ALDS, following Chris Sale’s starting assignment in Game 1 on Thursday.

But left unstated are the starters for Games 3 and 4.

“Beyond (Game 2), that will be determined,’’ said Farrell, as the Red Sox went through a light workout and left for Houston. “A number of things (will go into determining the rotation) – the way guys have pitched recently, the composition of our bullpen, how it supports our entire pitching staff and not just looking at two separate segments. I think there’s got to be some complement there.

“The four games (that we recently played against the Astros) give a little bit of first-hand knowledge and how we might use guys to the best of their abilities to take advantage of that. We’re not set yet; we had a meeting here this morning and will continue to do so into tomorrow.’’

(One thing Price made abundantly clear: David Price, who has pitched out of the bullpen in the last two weeks after coming off the DL, will not be part of the rotation. “He’s not going to start,’’ said Farrell flatly.)

If Farrell and the rest of brain trust are going by recent performance, both Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez could be in trouble. Rodriguez was shelled for five runs on six hits in just an inning and two-thirds Thursday night by the Astros, while the previous night, Porcello wasn’t much better, allowing five runs on seven hits, while pitching into the sixth against Toronto

Meanwhile, Doug Fister, who seemed to have pitched himself out of contention with a few shaky outings in mid-September, gave a much better account of himself Friday, allowing three runs over 5.1 innings against Houston.
It’s worth noting, too, that among the three candidates for the two starting spots, Fister is the only one with some success on his resume. In nine post-season appearances, eight of them starts, Fister is 4-2, with a 2.60 ERA.

“You do like the veteran presence, the guys that have been in the post-season, guys that seemingly will pitch with a little bit of emotional control, who can control the running game, executing a pitch in a key moment – all of that has a tendency to maybe shine through a little more.’’

Further evidence: Farrell noted that of three pitchers, only Fister would not be considered for either bullpen or the rotation, which suggests that his role is already determined, if not announced.

By contrast, Porcello is 0-3 with a 5.66 ERA in nine playoff appearances. He gave up five runs in 4.1 innings in a Game 1 start at Cleveland in last year’s ALDS. Pomeranz, made two relief appearances in last year’s ALDS against the Indians and posted a 4.91 ERA, having given up a critical home run to Coco Crisp in the deciding Game 3.

“I don’t think the Game 3 starter is going to hinge on winning Games 1 or 2,’’ said Farrell. “(It’s more about) what’s the best combination for our pitching staff and how does that play out and how that put certain guys in certain roles.

“It wouldn’t be a shock to find a guy who’s been in our rotation find his way to the bullpen. That’s a good possibility.’’

Reading between the lines, that would seem to indicate that Fister will get one of the starts, with the Sox choosing between Porcello or Rodriguez for the other assignment. And given that the Astros have a losing record against lefties, the better bet might Rodriguez.

That, in turn, would result in an unusual situation in which Porcello, the 2016 American League Cy Young Award winner, would not rate a start in the first round.

Then there’s the matter of whether the Sox even need a Game 4 starter since there’s always the option of bringing Sale back on short rest for that assignment.

“That would only be dependent on how Game 1 goes,’’ said Farrell. “That’s going to be solely dependent of how game 1 unfolds.