ANAHEIM, Calif - Justin Masterson is going to pitch some big innings for the Red Sox this year. The question is how many more he'll throw as a starter.
Last night against the Angels, Masterson was all over the strike zone. He walked three, allowed four hits, hit a batter, and was warned for throwing behind Torii Hunter - all in the first four innings. Masterson ended up settling down and limiting the Angels to five hits and two runs in six innings, but it was a struggle. He didn't throw a 1-2-3 inning until his final frame.
The Angels only touched him for two runs because he made pitches when he had to, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second and stranding runners at second and third in the first.
Despite his control trouble, Masterson still outperformed his previous two starts - six-run outings against the Rays and Indians that both ended in losses.
With Daisuke Matsuzaka expected to return from the disabled list in the next week or so, the Red Sox are going to need to find him a spot in the rotation. Matsuzaka is coming off four shutout innings in a rehab start Sunday and likely has only one rehab start remaining before rejoining the Red Sox on next week's homestand.
The most logical spot for him to assume would be Masterson's, with the youngster returning to the bullpen after presumably making one final start Sunday.
For his career, Masterson owns a 2.68 ERA as a reliever vs. 4.12 as a starter. Returning him to the bullpen would give the Red Sox someone better suited to pitching multiple innings than anyone else on the roster.
Masterson was on track to lose his third straight start last night until the Red Sox rallied in the eighth to tie the game at three.
They won it, 4-3, on Jason Varitek's RBI double in the ninth.
