clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Can Jon Lester And Josh Beckett Return To Form?

Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE
Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

Over at Baseball Nation today, I took a look at the season's of Red Sox pitchers Josh Beckett and Jon Lester in order to see if there's reason to believe they can return to form. Much of what is within the article has appeared here at some time or another, given we've been watching the pair struggle since April. But hey, the national audience needs to see what's going on as well, and this is up-to-date through Thursday evening's Lester start.

Boston needs at least one of the two to turn things around in the season's last two months to get right back in the thick of the wild card race. They're just four games out, and if Beckett can return both healthy and productive, then they're in a better place. If he's the same, then Boston needs Lester to continue what he's done in his last two starts, and strike out the opposition while limiting walks without giving up hits by the baker's dozen. If Boston gets some improvement from both, and also moves Franklin Morales into the rotation, then the end-of-season pitching staff is going to be far more effective than it was for the first two-thirds of the year. Better late than never, and all that.

Who do you have more faith in over the season's last two months, Jon Lester, or Josh Beckett?