Red Sox Need Big Performance From This Player On Friday

Weber's 11.57 ERA is hideous, but he draws a slumping Blue Jays offense

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Quick-Hitters

  • As their record stands at 4-8 (20 percent through the season), the Boston Red Sox are struggling to find answers in their starting rotation. This enabes Ryan Weber to make another start Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

  • Boston’s rotation has been shredded compared to what it looked like a year ago. David Price and Rick Porcello are gone, while Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez are out with their own personal issues.

  • With Weber getting his third start of the season on Friday, the Red Sox hope he can provide some stability behind Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez, despite his ugly 11.57 ERA. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE GAME ODDS!

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Ripped Apart

A year ago, if you had the chance to look into the future at the Boston Red Sox current rotation, you’d think there was no way this was it. However, with David Price being traded, Rick Porcello signing with the New York Mets, Chris Sale undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Eduardo Rodriguez sitting out the season because of COVID-19 complications, Boston’s rotation is almost unrecognizable. In fact, the Red Sox haven’t figured out their five starters with seven pitchers combining to start the team’s first 12 games of the season. Boston’s rotational issues have dropped the team’s World Series odds to +4000, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, despite having a lineup that is capable of doing some major damage.

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Breaking The Funk

The key figure in Boston’s rotation right now could be Friday’s starter, Ryan Weber. While Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez have been solid, Weber is the best option to give the Red Sox a third reliable starter. The problem is that Weber has posted an ERA of 11.57 over his first two starts of the season. He has conceded nine runs on 10 hits, including four home runs over just seven innings of work. Granted, one of his starts came against the New York Yankees terrifying offense, but he didn’t fare well against the Baltimore Orioles watered-down lineup either. In short, if the Red Sox are going to turn things around after their 4-8 start, Weber needs to turn things around and fast.

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Toronto's Slumping Sticks

There is a reason for the Red Sox to be optimistic about Weber on Friday night. The Toronto Blue Jays lineup has slumped to start the season, giving Weber a fighting chance of putting together a solid outing. The Blue Jays remain an intriguing dark horse with +8000 World Series odds, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

However, Toronto’s young starlets have yet to make much noise. Prior to Thursday's games, second baseman Cavan Biggio and catcher Danny Jensen are hitting under .200. Meanwhile, shortstop Bo Bichette and slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both have an OPS under .700. Big things were expected of Guerrero Jr. this season, but he has just one homer and one RBI over nine games. Outside of Teoscar Hernandez, who has four homers, the Blue Jays aren’t getting consistent production from anyone. That makes Friday’s game the perfect chance for Weber and the Red Sox to turn their fortunes around.