Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington dismissed pitching coach Bob McClure on Monday for “performance based” reasons. The Red Sox rank 11th in the AL with a 4.31 team ERA. The ERA of their starters is a combined 4.82. Fenway Park has never been a pitcher-friendly venue and Boston’s front end of the rotation has been downright awful this campaign.
So far this season, the five key Red Sox starters have cost bettors a combined $1,340 based on the bettor risking $100 per start. Here’s a player-by-player look at what the five Red Sox starters who have the most starts have cost bettors this season (prior to Aug. 21):
Jon Lester (7-10, 5.03 ERA)Last season: 19-15, 3.47 ERA
Lester is the undisputed ace of the staff in Boston, but he hasn’t performed like a stud thus far. The Red Sox are just 10-15 in Lester’s 25 starts this season. A $100 bet on each of those starts would have resulted in a
$1,183 hit to the bankroll.
Josh Beckett (5-11, 5.23 ERA)Last season: 13-7, 2.89 ERA
The Red Sox tried to pawn off Beckett at the trade deadline, but couldn’t find any willing suitors to take the struggling right-hander. Boston is 7-14 when Beckett takes the bump this campaign. Bettors that wagered $100 on his 21 starts would be
$930 in the hole.
Clay Buchholz (11-3, 4.19 ERA)Last season: 6-3, 3.48 ERA
Buchholz has been the most reliable starter for the Red Sox this season- when he’s healthy. Boston is 14-7 when the righty takes the hill and bettors placing a $100 wager on each of his 21 starts would be
up $559.
Felix Doubront (10-6, 4.70 ERA)Last season: 0-0, 6.01 ERA
Doubront has been a pleasant surprise for the Red Sox and for bettors. The club is 14-8 when the lefty takes the mound and a wager of $100 on each of his 22 starts would have a bettor
$423 in the black.
Aaron Cook (3-6, 4.58 ERA)Last season: 3-10, 6.03 ERA (With Colorado)
Cook has been inconsistent since assuming the role of full-time starter on June 24. The BoSox are 4-6 in his 10 starts this season,
costing bettors $209 on $100 bets on each of those outings.
Check out our starter money statistics to find out who the most profitable pitchers are this season.