• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Cold Wire

Breaking News, Sports, Entertainment, TV, Tech ...

  • Home
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • MLB
  • World News
  • Entertainment
  • Cold Hard Facts
  • About
You are here: Home / Sports / MLB / Eduardo Rodriguez Set To Make His Biggest Start Of 2021 For Red Sox

Eduardo Rodriguez Set To Make His Biggest Start Of 2021 For Red Sox

By Sam Leweck October 1, 2021

Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the second inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 29, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

 

The Boston Red Sox are entering the final weekend of the regular season with their backs against the wall.

After inexcusably dropping a series to the lowly Baltimore Orioles, Boston has very little margin of error remaining in its quest for a Wild Card bid.

The Red Sox will open a three-game series with the Washington Nationals tonight.

The only way for Boston to ensure that its season won’t end in three days is by sweeping this series with the Nationals.

Eduardo Rodriguez will get the series rolling for the Red Sox on Friday in his 31st start of the year.

Red Sox rotation vs. Nationals:

FRI: Eduardo Rodriguez
SAT: TBD
SUN: Chris Sale

Sets up Eovaldi for Game 163 or the Wild Card Game.

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) October 1, 2021

Rodriguez has had some important starts already this season, but none as big as this one.

Will he rise to the occasion?

 

Rodriguez Needs To Put His Frustrating Year Behind Him

It has been a rocky 2021 season for Rodriguez.

The lefty has an ugly 4.93 ERA, but when you consider his 3.35 FIP and .366 opponent BABIP, it’s easy to argue that he has been absurdly unlucky this season.

As frustrating as that can be for a pitcher, the 28-year-old has no choice but to leave that behind him.

For the Red Sox, it’s essentially a three-game season from this point forward.

The team may very well need to win all of its remaining games to crack the playoffs, and Rodriguez surely understands that.

He can salvage his entire year by helping the team extend its season.

Here’s some good news: Rodriguez, as strange as this is, has been much better on the road (4.22 ERA) than at home this season (5.95 ERA).

Tonight’s start is on the road in D.C.

 

The Nationals Are Going To Counter Rodriguez With One Of Their Best Young Pitchers

It won’t be an easy matchup for Rodriguez tonight.

While the Nationals are a last-place team, they have a decent offense, ranking 15th in MLB in runs per game.

Moreover, Washington is going to start Josh Rogers tonight, who is a very promising young pitcher.

The lefty has a 2.73 ERA over five starts this season.

He has allowed three runs or fewer in all of his outings so far this year.

Josh Rogers is a GAMER 😮 pic.twitter.com/0DO4987hgi

— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) September 22, 2021

The Nats have nothing to play for and nothing to lose, so there’s no pressure on Rogers to deliver tonight.

That could end up working against Boston.

It’ll be a battle of two southpaws, and it’ll be very interesting to see how the matchup unfolds.

 

Wrap-Up

Above all else, Rodriguez needs to enter his start tonight with a clear mind.

It’s a high-pressure outing for him, and he’s surely aware of the fact that all eyes are on going to be on him.

Plus, big games haven’t exactly been his friend in the past.

For example, he has a career 8.10 ERA in the postseason.

That’s also something that he’s likely aware of.

And on TOP of that, the guy is a free agent after the season ends.

This start could very well determine how his offseason unfolds.

It’s a tall task to stay focused, but he can’t let the narratives enter his head tonight.

There’s too much on the line.

Recent News

Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates his ninth inning game winning base hit against the Houston Astros with teammate Aaron Hicks #31 at Yankee Stadium on June 23, 2022 in New York City.
Yankees Looking To Keep Up An Elite Road Mark In Cleveland
A bucket with MLB baseballs on the field before a baseball game between Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays on August 2, 2020 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.
MLB Reveals Its Top Stars From The Month Of June
A Minnesota Twins hat and glove sit in the dugout during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 21, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Departing Twins Pitching Coach Shares A Message To The Fans

Filed Under: Boston Red Sox Rumors And News (Updated Daily), MLB Tagged With: Boston Red Sox

About Sam Leweck

Sam Leweck is a New Hampshire native and lifelong sports fan. He has several years of experience covering baseball as a writer, editor and broadcaster.

Suggest a correction

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search The Cold Wire

Footer

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

Editorial Guidelines

Contact Us

Sitemap

Advertise

Follow us on

Copyright © 2022 · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ·TheColdWire.com

Suggest a Correction

Eduardo Rodriguez Set To Make His Biggest Start Of 2021 For Red Sox

1000 characters remaining