“Our pitching has been unbelievable,” Red Sox captain-in-waiting Dustin Pedroia said.
But believe it.
As I wrote in my piece on Billy-Ball.com, Red Sox starters have not yet allowed more than three earned runs in a game this season.
As you mouse over the the teams, you realize that you want to be as far to the lower left-hand corner as possible.
But, you want to be the Tigers, whose starters have a 2.70 ERA and a 1.119 WHIP.
And, you want to be the Red Sox, whose starters have a 2.30 ERA and a 1.202 WHIP.
At this time of the year I am less concerned with the ERA of bullpens because of the small sample, but I am concerned with the number of innings thrown as that reflects short starts and could ultimately result in further wear and tear on the relievers. With relievers I always pay attention to WHIP.
On the chart above, you want to be in the lower left-hand quadrant, not the upper-right.
Royals fans have to be pleased that their bullpen has only had to throw 32.1 IP and been incredibly successful with a 1.113 WHIP.
The Astros bullpen introduction to AL has been less accomodating. They have already thrown 58.0 unproductive innings with a 1.517 WHIP.
Of major concern across the border has to be the Blue Jays bullpen which has been out there for 55.1 innings , with a 1.428 WHIP and having allowed 23 earned runs.
But the Red Sox pen has pitched 42.2 innings, their WHIP is 1.055, and they have allowed just 16 earned runs.
The bottom line is that the Braves today are the best team in baseball and their pitching staff has permitted just 25 ER, the Red Sox are next on the list having permitted only 37 ER.
It's a long season, but forget all the talk about chemistry, the game is about pitching and if you pitch well, you will do well and so far that's the Boston formula for success.