Red Sox Pitching and Patrick Sandoval’s First Start: A Super Simple Breakdown

The Red Sox Pitchers Have Been Awesome

The Boston Red Sox have been pitching really, really well (the writer joked they’ve been “pitching their dicks off,” but that’s just a funny way of saying they’re doing great).

• Even though lots of pitchers got hurt, the starting pitcher almost every night still throws until the sixth inning or later.
• This gives the team a good chance to win.
• Because of all the injuries, only Sonny Gray from the opening day starting group is still on the active roster.
• The newest pitcher added to the rotation is Patrick Sandoval.

Patrick Sandoval’s First Game in Two Years

Last Thursday, Sandoval played his first game in two years against the White Sox.

Here is what happened in that game:

• He pitched 4.1 innings (a bit past 4 innings).
• He allowed 1 run (a point for the other team).
• He gave up 5 hits (times the other team hit the ball well).
• He struck out 5 batters (made them miss).
• He walked 1 batter (let them go to first without hitting).
• The bullpen (relief pitchers who come after the starter) got the last 14 outs to win the game.

Important Point: For a first start in two years, this was a passing grade. The rest of the rotation helped the bullpen stay fresh.

Was It Real Skill or Just Luck?

The big question: was Sandoval’s good game real, or was he just lucky?

Before this game, the writer broke down Sandoval’s pitches and was worried because:

• His changeup shape (how the slow pitch moves) was questionable.
• He has always struggled with walks (letting batters go to first for free).
• His four-seam fastball (a straight, hard pitch) does not make batters miss and gets hit hard when over the plate.

But in this game:

• He only walked 1 batter.
• He used his four-seam fastball only 25% of the time (third most used pitch).

Why the Fastball Worked (A Little)

Sandoval mostly kept his fastball at the top of the strike zone (the area over home plate).

• A few went down over the plate; two became hits.
• His speed was a nice surprise: he hit 96 mph a few times.
• That extra speed might have been from adrenaline (nervous excitement) after 2 years away.

Important Point: The fastball is not a great pitch. If his speed drops to around 93 mph as expected, location becomes super important. Even in this game, it only got 1 swing-and-miss out of 12 swings.

The Slider (His Most-Used Pitch)

Sandoval used his slider (a pitch that slides sideways) the most in the game.

• Its zone rate was low: only 35% of sliders were in the strike zone.
• Hitters did not chase pitches outside the zone.
• It got only 1 swing-and-miss.
• Total strike rate was 50%. In his best years, it was 65–70%.

A reason to hope:

• The slider looked different from past years: more lift, like a cutter (a harder sliding pitch).
• With time, he may locate it better on the glove side.
• Shape and speed should let it work against both left and right hitters, but location decides if it’s good.

The Changeup (His Best Pitch)

The changeup (a slow pitch that looks like a fastball) has always been Sandoval’s best.

On Thursday:

• He threw 18 changeups.
• Got 4 swing-and-misses, 4 called strikes, and 2 outs on balls hit.
• Kept it low and away; hitters couldn’t resist swinging.

Example:

• In the 4th inning, runner on first, nobody out.
• Sandoval went to a 3-2 count vs Junior Perez.
• Instead of a fastball, he threw a changeup. Perez expected hard stuff and swung over it for strike three.

Important Point: His changeup is so good he will throw it in any count to keep hitters guessing and off his other pitches.

What This Means Going Forward

One game is too small to know the whole season. But we saw his plan:

• Writer is skeptical he can consistently locate fastball and slider to help the changeup.
• With injuries and young arms, the Red Sox need Sandoval to make a few starts to keep everyone fresh for playoffs.
• He will keep getting chances and try to earn money in 2027.

Summary

The Red Sox starters are pitching great despite injuries. Patrick Sandoval returned after two years and did okay: fastball was placed well but not special, slider needs work, and changeup was excellent. One game isn’t proof, but the team needs him to help down the stretch.

FAQ

Q: Why was Patrick Sandoval’s first start a big deal?
A: He had not pitched in two years and was joining a hurt Red Sox staff, so they needed him to eat innings.

Q: What is a changeup and why is it his best pitch?
A: A changeup is a slow pitch that looks like a fastball. His is great because hitters swing at it and miss or take strikes, which protects his weaker pitches.

Q: Should fans trust his slider yet?
A: Not fully. It was his most-used pitch but missed the zone a lot. Its new shape gives hope, but location must improve.

Q: Is the Red Sox pitching luck or skill?
A: Mostly skill—starters go deep into games nightly—but Sandoval’s first outing needs more samples to confirm.