"Last week, I sat here when the Red Sox lost to the Pirates and said I didn't really care. I'm still (fairly) confident they'll make the playoffs, but tonight's game was cause for concern. The team only has three starting pitchers. Payton Tolle won't pitch on more than extra rest, so they're essentially using a six-man rotation. Off days will help, but there still might not be enough."
"Payton Tolle's short start on Friday exposed the bullpen at the beginning of a six-game road trip. If Lucas Giolito or Brayan Bello turns in a short start, the road trip could quickly become a disaster. The good news is that once you get to the playoffs, that doesn't really matter. You can get by with a three-man rotation and use everyone else to fill in the gaps. Survive till October, and then we go."
"In terms of the actual game on Friday, the D-backs jumped out to an early lead. In the third inning, they grabbed three more runs, extending the lead to four. The Red Sox used low-leverage relievers to keep the score close and rallied in the eighth inning, but the D-backs punched back and blew the game wide open. The only pitcher tonight who didn't allow a run. Good job, Greg."
The Red Sox have effectively only three reliable starters, as Payton Tolle will not pitch on normal rest, forcing an effective six-man rotation and creating starter depth concerns. Tolle's short start exposed the bullpen at the outset of a six-game road trip, raising the risk that another short outing from Lucas Giolito or Brayan Bello could collapse the trip. Playoff pitching usage reduces the impact of starting depth by allowing a three-man rotation and heavier bullpen roles. In Friday's game the D-backs jumped to an early lead, extended it in the third, and later blew the game open after a Red Sox eighth-inning rally. Roman Anthony is red hot and Alex Bregman showed signs of life after a cold stretch.
Read at Over the Monster
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