Red Sox-Rangers Pitching Matchups: Eduardo Rodriguez Will Make MLB Debut
BOSTON (CBS) -- The reeling Red Sox will turn to a rookie in the hopes of ending a three-game skid.
Boston closes out their seven-game road trip with a four-game set against the Rangers in Texas, starting Thursday night. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who the Red Sox acquired from Baltimore last season in exchange for Andrew Miller, will be called up from Triple-A Pawtucket and make his Major League debut to kick off the series.
While it's still relatively cool in Arlington compared to the dog days of summer, this won't be an easy trip to Texas for Boston. The Red Sox are 3-6 over their last three series, a stretch that began with them losing two of three to the Rangers in Boston last week. Meanwhile, Texas has won seven of their last nine, averaging over six runs per game in that stretch.
Here's a look at the pitching matchups for the upcoming four-game series in Texas:
Thursday, May 28 -- 8:05 pm
Eduardo Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Nick Martinez (4-0, 1.96 ERA)
Rodriguez is one of Boston's top prospects, and one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. He's showed some good stuff in Pawtucket this season, going 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA in eight starts. He struck out 44 batters in 48.1 innings pitched, and showed some very good command issuing just seven walks.
"He's got very good stuff," Sox manager John Farrell said of his rookie southpaw. "He's got very good ability with his fastball — a lot of strikes, a lot of power to it. His changeup is a true weapon for him. His slider is a pitch for him that continues to come along."
This will likely be a spot-start for Rodriguez, essentially a sixth starter for Boston, who are at the midway point of a 20-games-in-20-days stretch.
"We wanted to build in an extra day for guys. We also wanted to get his debut kind of under his belt before we could possibly need him later this season," said Farrell.
This is an exciting night for the Red Sox and their fans, as Rodriguez could be a big part of the Boston rotation in the future -- potentially the near future.
However, he's going up against one of Texas' best arms in Nick Martinez. The 24-year-old righty has won two straight, allowing just three earned runs in his last 12 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts. Plus, Josh Hamilton will be making his Texas debut for the Rangers since rejoining the team a month ago.
Key Matchup: Mike Napoli vs. Martinez
Napoli doesn't have any history against Martinez, but is on a tear over the last week. The Sox first baseman is batting .333 with four homers and nine RBI in the last seven days, and has 30 career dingers in 150 career games at Rangers Ballpark.
Friday, May 29 -- 8:05 pm
Steven Wright (2-1, 3.68 ERA) vs. Yovani Gallardo (4-6, 4.13 ERA)
The Boston knuckleballer is seeking his second straight win, as Wright picked up the "W" Saturday against the Angels with 6.1 innings of two-run ball. This will be his first career outing against Texas.
The Rangers counter with Gallardo, who allowed four runs off 10 hits in a 4-3 loss to the Sox last week. He is 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA in three career starts against Boston.
Key Matchup: David Ortiz vs. Gallardo
Big Papi has just one hit in his last 20 at-bats, but Ortiz is 4-for-7 with a homer and two RBI in his career against the Texas righty. He went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single in Boston's 4-3 win over Gallardo and the Rangers at Fenway last week.
Saturday, May 30 -- 7:15 pm
Wade Miley (4-4, 4.47 ERA) vs. Phil Klein (1-0, 8.25 ERA)
Miley has put together a nice stretch for Boston, winning each of his last three starts. In that span, he's allowed just three earned runs over 21.2 innings pitched. He's coming off a one-run, eight inning gem against the Angels on Sunday, and held the Rangers to two runs in seven innings last Tuesday.
Klein picked up a win against the Sox last week, holding them to one run on five hits over 5.1 innings. He was roughed up his last time out though, giving up seven runs (six earned) in two innings against Cleveland. The Rangers bats bailed him out, winning that game 10-8.
Key Matchups: Adrian Beltre & Elvis Andrus vs. Miley
The left side of the Texas infield is a combined 1-for-13 with four strikeouts against Miley.
Sunday, May 31 -- 3:05 pm
Joe Kelly (1-4, 6.24 ERA) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 3.60 ERA)
Kelly looks to put an end to a pretty terrible stretch when he takes the mound on Sunday. He's been tagged with the loss in four of his last five starts, giving up 21 runs over his last 25.1 innings pitched. His last start was his worst of the season, allowing seven runs in just 1.2 innings pitched on Monday in Minnesota. There's nowhere to go but up (or the bullpen) for Kelly, right?
The Rangers will close out the series by sending the lefty Rodriguez to the mound. He picked up the win in Boston last Thursday, holding the Sox to one run on four hits over 6.2 innings, striking out five in a 3-1 victory.
Just to keep you updated on their season-long struggles, the Red Sox are now batting .208 against left-handed pitching, ranking 29th in the baseball.
Key Matchup: Hanley Ramirez vs. Rodriguez
Hanley, who has just one hit in his last 12 at-bats, is 10-for-27 in his career against Rodriguez with a pair of doubles, two triples, a homer and two RBI.