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Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced Chris Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello will be Boston's first three starters when the regular season begins a week from tomorrow in Tampa, but after that..?
Brian Johnson or Eduardo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez wasn't expected to be ready to start the year after offseason knee surgery to correct frequent kneecap separations, but he's improving at a rapid rate and punctuated that excitement with a solid four-inning game against minor leaguers yesterday. The lefty was efficient while throwing 60 pitches.
“It was the first time I was in a real game," Rodriguez said. "Every pitch was really good – the changeup, slider – everything was working pretty good. My knee feels really good, everything feels really good. I just try to be ready when I’m ready... I feel like I’m getting to that point. So, let’s see what they wanna do now.”
Rodriguez said he felt good, so he'll hope the results are similar when he takes the mound again on regular five days' rest.
Eduardo, how's your arm strength?
“I threw four innings today. I feel like, if I throw five or six innings in one start, I’ll feel like I’ll be ready to go,” he said.
Rodriguez set career-highs last year with 24 starts and 137-and-a-third innings, but he also went just 6-and-7 with a 4-19 ERA.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman Reports: