Projo Sox Blog

The Red Sox will probably use Justin Masterson as a reliever this year. But if they do need him to start, he looks well prepared for the role.

The second-year pitcher threw three strong innings against the Tampa Bay Rays today, allowing only one hit and striking out three. He threw 43 pitches, 27 of them for strikes, and left with a 7-0 lead. The Red Sox would go on to win, 8-2.

"I wanted to come out, really throw all my pitches, and I did that pretty well. The first couple change-ups I pushed a little bit, left them up and away. After that, I was pretty excited with what took place," Masterson said.

Masterson is on a starter's program this spring, to stretch him out and prepare him for the grind of the regular season. This experience can only help him particularly as he builds his change-up to complement his sinker and slider, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

"Last year, he went to the bullpen, and he was basically only a two-pitch pitcher, out of necessity. If he starts, you're going to see him be a three-pitch pitcher, and that'll help," Francona said.

That's exactly Masterson's thinking. He has studied Brandon Webb, a pitcher who has ridden a sinker-change up combination to become one of the best pitchers in the majors.

Masterson wants to make his sinker-change combo equally powerful.

"That's something, starting or relieving, I definitely want to implement to righties and lefties. It'll help to make the sinker that much better. I follow Brandon Webb a lot, and he implemented the change up in there, and it just elevated him to another level," he said.

Masterson was just the first young Red Sox arm to make an impact this afternoon. Hot relieving prospect Daniel Bard came on in the fifth and struck out the side, and then recently signed Japanese starter Junichi Tazawa pitched quality sixth and seventh innings, allowing one run but striking out four.

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Dan barbarisi Justin masterson Terry Francona

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