Erik Bedard So Far

Erik Bedard has yet to register a win in Boston, but don't let that fool you. He has pitched very well in his three starts and 16 innings, more than well enough to win, especially in last night's second game of a doubleheader with the Rays. 

Bedard has struck out 17 hitters and walked just four in his 16 frames, piling on to what was already a productive campaign on the mound. All told, the lefty has thrown 107-1/3 innings between the Red Sox and the Mariners, with 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings pitched against 2.9 walks (K/BB of 3.1) and a 3.44 ERA. 

He has had one rough inning in each outing, but has been basically flawless outside of those. In his first start with Boston, Bedard gave up three runs in five innings on 70 pitches, before being pulled in order to limit his pitch count -- he had just one start since returning from the DL, and Boston wasn't taking any chances with their new pitcher. They stretched him out a bit more in his second start, when he again went five innings but threw 90 pitches, in part thanks to a first inning that Tim McClelland just wouldn't let end in which he walked the only four batters he has given free passes to while in Boston.

Then there was last night, his first 100-pitch outing since June 27 (Bedard was on the DL for nearly all of July), where he once again held his opponent walk-less, but the three runs (and one earned) he held the Rays to were too many, not that it mattered once the bullpen had a rare misstep and cost them any chance of a comeback. 

Bedard has done exactly what he is supposed to in his starts by keeping Boston in the game. He has pitched very well, and generally controlled the pace of plate appearances. Now that he is being stretched out to 100 pitches, we should start to see Bedard go a bit deeper in games, and start to pick up those wins he deserves for his effort.

And hey, if not, the bottom line is that he is putting the Red Sox in a position to win by limiting walks and getting outs on his own with strikeouts. You can't ask for much more than that from your starting pitchers.