Way back before the season, Joe Kelly predicted he would win the Cy Young award. Back in February when it happened, I laughed like everyone else. The enthusiasm was great at the time, but even before this season started, I thought that it seemed unlikely. At his best, Joe Kelly is maybe a solid #3 starter, and it was unlikely he would compete with the elite starters in the AL. Then this season started, and any chance Kelly may have had vanished.
Kelly has a 2-5 record, and a 5.67 ERA. Not exactly Cy Young material. Last night’s start against the Baltimore Orioles marked his second shortest start this season at 3 and 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs and 8 hits (his shortest start was 5/25 against Minnesota) according to NESN. That begs the question: Are Joe Kelly’s days in the starting rotation number? John Farrell danced around the question when asked about it Wednesday night, telling NESN, “We haven’t had a chance to review all that,” Farrell said. “But we’re certainly well aware of some of the up-and-down path it’s been for Joe to this point.”