Eduardo Rodriguez. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Eduardo Rodriguez is enjoying a career-year. Through 12 starts, he's off to a 7-and-1 start with a personal-best 3.68 ERA. Over his last four outings, the lefty has a sub-2 mark.
So what's made Rodriguez so good this season? Sox manager Alex Cora weighs in.
"He's been more aggressive, especially with his strikes," Cora said. "Sometimes the pitch count gets up during the game, and we have to make a decision halfway through the sixth inning, but I can see why people think that this guy can be a dominant starter. One thing about him, he's learning that he doesn't have to be David or Chris or Drew--he can be Eduardo Rodriguez, and Eduardo Rodriguez at this level is a good pitcher."
Eduardo Rodriguez Takes Four-Game Winning Streak Into Baltimore
Rodriguez has already beaten the Orioles twice this season, and he'll try to do so a third time tonight in Baltimore at 7:05 p.m.
The southpaw has a 3.97 career ERA in a dozen starts against his old organization. He said his focus right now is pitching deeper into games. So far, he's failed to reach seven innings in any of his starts this year. Rodriguez will be opposed by rookie righty David Hess.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports