‘Future is bright’ for Pivetta
Will make his 30th start of season tonight
When the Red Sox acquired Nick Pivetta from the Phillies in August 2020, Chaim Bloom saw the potential for more in the power right-hander who had a couple of major league seasons under his belt.
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“We really feel like he’s a good fit going forward and we’ve got a chance to help him reach a level that he has not yet in his career,” Bloom said then.
The Red Sox have already won that trade with the Phillies, largely because of Pivetta’s strong first season in Boston.
Essentially given up on by the Phillies, the Red Sox took a chance on Pivetta. He reported to their alternate site upon the trade before showing promise in two strong starts with the bigleague club to end 2020. It was a sign of things to come. Though he hit a mid-year rough patch, Pivetta will make his 30th start of the season tonight in Baltimore — potentially his last of the year — as one of the Red Sox’ most dependable starters.
It wasn’t certain what to expect from the 28-year-old Pivetta, but he’s given the Red Sox valuable innings and some massive performances, highlighted by a dazzling 6-0 start that included beating Mets ace Jacob deGrom in April and spinning 6 2/3 no-hit innings in a June start at Tampa.
“He’s been really good for us,” manager Alex Cora said. “Obviously, there’s more there, we believe, and he keeps learning and keeps going. … He works with everybody and makes adjustments. He’s had some big starts for us.”
Cora noted that his fastball has continued to play, but it wouldn’t be possible if not for his ability to stay healthy. Other than two brief spells on the COVID-19 related injury list, Pivetta has made all of his starts.
“Coming into the season we felt that physically he was going to be able to hold on,” Cora said. “He’s a strong kid. He is. He does a lot of stuff off the field working out and all that. Part of his routine that has helped him to stay healthy. I do believe as a staff, medical staff, they did an amazing job with him early on in the season. As you know, he was going five, sometimes six, but most of the time it was five. Because of that, he’s been able to maintain his stuff, to stay healthy, and the future is bright for him. He’s a good one.”
Vazquez handling 1st with Goodwin gone
Red Sox quality control coach Ramon Vazquez has replaced Tom Goodwin as the team’s first base coach for the remainder of the regular season. Major League Baseball has mandated that coaching staffs must be vaccinated during the postseason. Goodwin is not vaccinated, so the Red Sox want to make sure they’re prepared if they advance to the playoffs.
Cora said Goodwin will remain with the team through the end of the regular season on the bench and working with the outfielders.
Plawecki back at catcher for Eovaldi
A start after Nathan Eovaldi struggled with Christian Vazquez as his catcher, Kevin Plawecki was back Wednesday night for the Red Sox right-hander.
Eovaldi’s numbers this season have been better with Plawecki as his catcher. Entering Wednesday night’s start, Eovaldi had a 3.50 ERA in 90 innings with Plawecki, compared to a 4.77 ERA in 66 innings with Vazquez. But Cora said the decision to go to Plawecki on Wednesday was more about going against a left-hander.
“I noticed the numbers,” Cora said. “Nate was really good early on with Christian, too, so it’s actually not about that. It’s about Kevin’s bat against lefties. For some reason, this year, Christian has struggled against lefties and if you compare his numbers with ’19, even last year, if you want to count those, it’s very different. And Kevin has been solid against lefties. He’s been solid with everybody behind the plate. He calls a good game. …
“I think in the end, the guy on the mound is really good. He’ll be good even with Jason (Varitek) if he puts his gear back if he can move. But Kevin has done an amazing job with us. Offensively, for how good he was last year, I think this year is a lot better.” …
The goal is for Garrett Whitlock, who threw catch on Wednesday, to throw a bullpen on Friday as he works toward a return from a right pectoral strain that’s kept him out since last week. … Josh Taylor (back strain) has not resumed baseball activities. …
Eduardo Rodriguez will start Friday’s series opener against the Nationals, but the rest of the weekend is to be determined based on where the Red Sox are in the standings, Cora said. It’s possible Tanner Houck could start in a bullpen game Saturday, but it depends if he is needed over the next few days.