First 12 games: #RedSox starters 2-7, 6.71. Last nine: 7-1, 0.88”
That right there is really all you need to know about how the second half of April has gone for the Red Sox. In fact, the good folks at the Sons of Sam Horn have determined that the past nine starts are the best stretch since the introduction of the DH. Considering how putrid much of the starting rotation looked the first two times through, to have them come and throw darts like this is highly encouraging. Dice-K alone has been unbelievable his past two starts, the best consecutive starts in his career. I can’t help shake the feeling that he will get torched in his next time out; I am more confident that it is because every pitcher gets beaten up and not because he is terrible. However, if he and Beckett can pitch even three quarters as effectively as they have their past few starts, the Sox are going to win a lot of games.
Which isn’t to say that one historically great stretch is going to carry through for the entire season, but as long as they can play on a generally winning path they will be in the hunt towards the end of the season. Which is all I can ask for.