As the Sox gather at Tropicana Field tonight for a mandatory workout, keeping up that production is more important than ever given the state of the rotation.
The Sox open a three-game series against the Rays tomorrow night and are planning to start Andrew Miller, John Lackey, and Josh Beckett. But Beckett’s availability is now in question after he could not pitch in the All-Star Game on Tuesday because of a sore left knee.
That could force the Sox to pitch Tim Wakefield or rookie Kyle Weiland on Sunday.
With Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz on the disabled list and Beckett dealing with knee pain, the Sox need their bats to prop up their pitching. At the moment, there is not a sure thing in the rotation.
Beckett had an earned run average of 1.86 in his first 14 starts. But he has allowed nine earned runs in his last 17 innings. He missed what amounted to two starts with a bad case of the flu, then twisted his knee on a wet mound on Friday night.
Beckett was scheduled to pitch the second inning of the All-Star Game but felt discomfort while warming up and decided to play it safe. He does not believe the injury is serious, but obviously the Sox will have to monitor his health.
Lackey pitched one of his best games as a member of the Red Sox on Saturday, shutting out Baltimore for 6 ⅔ innings and striking out seven. But that only lowered his earned run average to 6.84 after 14 starts.
Miller is 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in four starts since being called up from Triple A Pawtucket. But his peripheral statistics are not impressive. He has a 1.59 WHIP and is averaging just 5.2 strikeouts per nine innings. While Miller has shown promise, the Sox were hoping for better given his dominance in the minors.
The 44-year-old Wakefield is on pace to throw 147 innings, which would be his most since 2008. The Sox entered the season expecting he would make 10-12 starts, not 20.
