Friday, April 3, 2015

Is Rick Porcello Now The New Red Sox Ace?

Porcello Last Night
Rick Porcello will probably be gone in free agency by 2016—so we should try to enjoy him during his brief stay in Carmine Hose. In fact, he may just be our ace in 2015. Porcello pitched well again last night—throwing four innings of one-run ball. The righty gave up just five hits, struck out three and walked none. So far this Spring, Porcello has delivered a 2.57 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched. On this team (with this cast of characters in the rotation) that's ace material. Clay Buchholz has also performed pretty well this Spring (3.60 ERA in four starts), but he's also been eminently hittable (21 hits in 15 innings pitched). To be fair, he has struck out 18 and walked only three. Wade Miley and Justin Masterson have also done well—posting sub-4.00 ERAs. But, as of this morning, you have to give the 'ace' moniker to Porcello.