The Red Sox are finally addressing their pitching rotation

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 2: Drew Pomeranz #13 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at PETCO Park on July 2, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) — (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

On Thursday, the Boston Red Sox made a move to shore up their battered rotation by trading for the San Diego Padres’ best pitcher, Drew Pomeranz. If you’re curious about how badly the Red Sox felt they needed Pomeranz, the cost will tell you: the Red Sox sent their top pitching prospect, Anderson Espinoza, to San Diego in exchange for Pomeranz.

The improved Red Sox will take on their AL East rivals the New York Yankees when the start their series tonight, and you can watch for free because it’s Yahoo Sports’ MLB Free Game of the Day. The game, which starts at 7:05 p.m. ET, can be streamed on Yahoo’s Sports Home, MLB index, video home and right here in the story you’re reading. Local blackouts apply.

Pomeranz, who has a 2.47 ERA and has been averaging exactly six innings per start, will certainly stabilize things for the Red Sox. But the bigger question is how exactly they got to this point. Two members of their rotation, Steven Wright and Rick Porcello, have been pulling their weight (and then some), but the rest of the rotation has been a mess at best.

BOSTON, MA - JULY 10: David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox prepares to pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Fenway Park on July 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) — (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The biggest surprise has been David Price, and it hasn’t been a good surprise. In 19 starts, Price has pitched to a 4.34 ERA, and he’s handing out walks like they’re candy at Halloween. He’s also served up 16 homers, which is just one less than he gave up in all of 2015. This is not the guy the Red Sox thought they’d be getting when they signed Price to a seven-year, $217 million contract in December.

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Clay Buchholz has had a disastrous 2016. After his first start (five runs in four innings), he had an 11.25 ERA. In the 17 games since, he’s been able to pare that down to 5.91. He’s striking out fewer batters than ever, and he’s on pace to give up more home runs than he ever has. The Red Sox moved him to the bullpen before the All-Star break, but they plan to move him back into the rotation.

Joining him in the rotation will be fellow bad-season-haver Eduardo Rodriguez, who netted an 8.59 ERA in six starts. That’s the opposite of what the Red Sox expected from the guy who had been so strong for them in 2015. They demoted him to the minors a few weeks ago to work on his mechanics, which they think may have been put off-kilter by a knee injury he sustained during spring training. So at the very least they have an explanation.

There are reasons for Red Sox fans to be positive about the second half, though. Drew Pomeranz is joining the rotation, which will provide the relief they desperately need. Eduardo Rodriguez had two great starts in the minors, which has made the Red Sox confident that he’s worked out his mechanics. But the most positive thing is the improvement of David Price. Before the All-Star break, Price was starting to look a lot more like himself. With the exception of a six-run, two inning outing, Price pitched well in June. And in his last two starts before the break, he gave up three combined runs, surrendered only two walks, one home run, and struck out a total of 20 batters. If Price and the rest of Boston’s rotation can stabilize, that could be just what the Red Sox need to climb up the AL East.

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