Rick Porcello. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Rick Porcello was the Red Sox' ace in 2016. He led the majors with 22 wins and posted the game's best strikeout-to-walk ratio on the way to winning his first Cy Young.
Last year, he again had 33 starts, but the rightie paced the big leagues with 17 losses and gave up the most hits and home runs. His ERA jumped a run-and-a-half.
Not ideal.
Porcello made his spring debut in yesterday's exhibition loss to the Astros, but he fanned four over two shutout innings.
So, what are Rick's keys to being successful again in 2018?
"I think the biggest thing is getting back to an aggressive mentality," he said. "Just, throwing it with conviction again, and not worrying about if a guy hits it or you give up a homer, I mean, being stubborn with it, that's kind of my bread and butter and that's my identity, and sticking with it."
Sox and Cardinals play Friday in Drew Pomeranz's first start of the preseason.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports