Wacha pitches 3 scoreless innings, making case to join rotation

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Even if he is no longer the fireballer who fearlessly beat the Red Sox in Game 2 of the 2013 World Series as a rookie at the age of 22, Michael Wacha can still be an important piece of the rotation puzzle for his new team.

That new team? The Red Sox.

What better place for Wacha’s career to start trending upward again than for the team he once pitched against when the stakes were the highest?

In Wacha’s Grapefruit League debut Monday, he scattered four hits over three innings but the damage was minimized with a pair of double plays. The righty didn’t allow a run while walking one and striking out one as the Red Sox beat the Braves, 5-0.

“Whenever there is traffic out there, [I] try to make some quality pitches and let the defense work behind me,” Wacha said. “They made a couple of nice, quick double plays there and got me out of the inning. That’s the goal, for sure, on the mound.”

The Red Sox will take it.

Unlike those years with the Cardinals, when he shouldered the burden that comes with being a front-line starter, Wacha is a supporting cast member at this point. He is trying to win a spot in the rotation. If not, he offers the team a seasoned long man.

With Chris Sale (stress fracture in his right rib cage) sidelined indefinitely, the certainties in Boston’s rotation are Nathan Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora characterized it as "likely" that Tanner Houck will crack the rotation at the start of the season. Lefty Rich Hill also appears to have the inside track.

That could leave Wacha battling it out with Garrett Whitlock -- who was superb in the bullpen last season -- for the final spot.

“We have a pretty good idea. We know where we’re leaning to, but obviously to make an announcement now, it doesn’t make sense to us,” Cora said. “We just want to make sure the guys tomorrow [Hill and Whitlock], they go through the progression. The next turn is going to be very important to see how they bounce back from this week. Overall, this week has been really good.”

Cora is looking past the 5.05 ERA Wacha had for the Rays last season and focusing more on the way he made better use of his changeup to perform better down the stretch.

“He will be a good one,” Cora said. “He’s 30. He is still young. He is still learning. He has adapted to the group. He mentioned the other day he feels very comfortable.”

In what figures to be a highly-competitive American League East this season, the Red Sox like the experience Wacha brings to the table. They also like his classic build for a starting pitcher.

“He is a big guy. He grew up in an organization where they know how to win,” Cora said. “They know baseball. Like I said the other day, we thought we were physical on the mound and he’s up there.”

Darwinzon dazzles
Darwinzon Hernandez, who possesses an electric left arm but has struggled to harness his powerful stuff, is in a battle for a roster spot this spring.

He is now one of many lefty relievers vying for a spot on the staff. Veteran Jake Diekman, signed as a free agent last week, is a lock.

Josh Taylor, Boston’s best left-on-left reliever, will be when he’s healthy, but there’s a chance he will start the season on the injured list due to back soreness.

Matt Strahm, another new acquisition, and Austin Davis are also in the mix.

Given the increased competition, Hernandez got off to a good start Monday when he fired a perfect inning, striking out all three batters he faced.

“That was really good,” Cora said. “I think we were joking around like, ‘He should bottle this one up, and we should check his heart rate, how easy it was.’ He was under control.”