Farrell not troubled by 3 lefties in rotation

 

NEW YORK (AP) Boston manager John Farrell says he isn’t troubled by having three left-handed pitchers in his starting rotation.
All-Star Drew Pomeranz, acquired from San Diego on Thursday night, joins fellow lefties David Price and Eduardo Rodriguez in a rotation that includes righties Rick Porcello and Steven Wright.
Fenway Park, with its 37-foot high Green Monster in left field, usually is kinder to right-handed pitchers.
”It’s not a concern because they’re the best available pitchers that we have,” Farrell said Friday. Sometimes the wall gives and it takes away, as well.”
Pomeranz is to make his Boston debut Wednesday against San Francisco in Fenway Park. The 27-year-old was 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts for San Diego this season and pitched a scoreless inning in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.
”This is a starter that we felt we needed to complement the guys that were here, improve our starting rotation,” Farrell said. ”It’s been interesting to see how Drew has evolved from last year to this year, just with his pitch mix and usage overall.”
Boston has added four players this month, also acquiring infielder Aaron Hill from Milwaukee, right-hander Brad Ziegler from Arizona and utilityman Nick Martinez from Cleveland.
Pomeranz is to report during or after Saturday’s game and throw a bullpen session Sunday. He has thrown curveballs on 38 percent of his pitches this year, up from 31 percent in 2015 and 27 percent in 2014, according to Brooks Baseball. He has thrown his new cutter on 11 percent of pitches this season.
Originally signed by Cleveland in 2010 as the fifth overall pick in the amateur draft, Pomeranz was traded to Colorado in August 2011, to Oakland in December 2013 and to San Diego last December.
”This is a guy that’s been traded four times,” Farrell said, explaining his view of the history of left-handers. ”There is a long list that have come into their own late in their 20s, and Drew may very well be one of those type of guys.”
Farrell said reliever Junichi Tazawa, on the disabled list with right shoulder impingment, threw a 25-pitch bullpen Friday, has another session scheduled for Sunday and likely will be activated when he becomes eligible Tuesday.
On another topic, David Ortiz laughed at the notion his comments this week that Boston should sign Edwin Encarnacion to replace him next season could be construed as improper.
”Tampering? I don’t write no paycheck,” Ortiz said. ”I can say whatever I want. I’m not a GM or a team owner. If I say tomorrow that I want to play with LeBron James, am I tampering, too?”