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It’s been written to death that Alex Cora routinely calls Hector Velazquez and Brian Johnson the “MVPs” of the Red Sox’ 2018 success for the consistency they brought to the fifth starter role, important depth pieces during Boston’s historic 108-win season.
That consistency has been nonexistent this season, and it got worse on Thursday when Velazquez struggled through 2.1 innings in Toronto, giving up five hits and three runs while only managing to get seven outs. Colten Brewer had to enter in the third inning and didn’t fare much better, giving up three runs of his own — including two homers — and getting just five outs in the process.
With Nathan Eovaldi only having thrown four times this season after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow in mid-April, that fifth spot has shuttled between five other pitchers, none with any sustained success.
Excluding Eovaldi as well as Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez — the ever-present first four — Boston’s other starters have taken the ball 15 times and given up 36 earned runs in 46 innings, a frightening combined ERA of 7.04.
Excluding Johnson, who’s given up just one earned in eight innings over two starts, that number climbs to 8.29 for Velazquez, Josh Smith, Darwinzon Hernandez and Ryan Weber. Johnson has pitched well when called upon, though he’s been inconsistent at times and is presnelty on the IL with a non-baseball medical matter.