There's been nothing official from the Red Sox yet, but with 10 days to go before the team's season opener, it certainly appears as though Nathan Eovaldi will be the team's starter when the Sox host the Baltimore Orioles on July 24.
For one thing, there's the math. After going four innings and 66 pitches (plus another inning with 16 pitches on a mound situated on the concourse) in an intrasquad game Tuesday, Eovaldi is the most built-up of the team's starters. For another, he's set to next pitch Sunday, five days before the opener, lining him up for the assignment. Finally, there's the fact that the most logical choice for the opener, Eduardo Rodriguez, has yet to be cleared to join the Sox in Summer Camp as he awaits multiple negative tests for COVID-19 in the Miami area.
"I haven't said anything to him yet,'' said Ron Roenicke. "That conversation will probably happen in the next day or two. You guys can figure out the numbers there. But I haven't said anything to Nate yet. That conversation will happen in the next couple of days.''
"I haven't been told anything yet,'' said Eovaldi. "We'll see what happens. Either way, I'm going to be ready to go.''
In addition to being the most accomplished available starter, Eovaldi is in a good spot to assume that responsibility.
"I think anytime you're in a position where the team counts on you, it's a good feeling,'' said Roenicke. "He's pitched enough in the big leagues. He's had enough success in the big leagues. He's gone through struggles in the big leagues. So, I think all those things allow him to handle it if we go with Opening Day with him. I'm not worried about the makeup. If he's that guy, we feel good starting with him.''
It would seem that Eovaldi has progressed nicely and could be ready to throw nearly 100 pitches on opening night.
"I feel like I'm ready now,'' said Eovaldi. "Before we came back, I was throwing a lot -- five or six innings, 100 pitches each time. I've just been having my usual soreness. Nothing new has popped up, so I feel like I'm ready.''
''Hopefully, we get him up to six innings and the pitch count will be there,'' said Roenicke. "His strength is there and his command has been pretty good. We really are happy with where he's at. We know we're going need innings from us, with what our rotation is. He's got to be a guy we're going to count on to give us innings most every game.''
"It's definitely going to be important to go out there and get quick out and stay out there as long I can,'' Eovaldi said.
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