The Boston Red Sox are absolutely loaded in the starting rotation for the 2010 season. It all starts with 29-year old righty Josh Beckett. Beckett started 32 games for the Red Sox last season in which he was 17-6 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has started 122 games in 4 years with the Red Sox in which he is 65-34 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. You can book 15-20 wins for Beckett if he stays healthy all year for the Red Sox in 2010.

26-year old lefty Jon Lester was really sharp last season for the Red Sox. He started 32 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 15-8 with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Lester only gave up 186 hits in 203 1/3 innings last season while whiffing 225 batters showing just how nasty he can be. Lester has now pitched in 92 games (91 starts) in his four years with the Red Sox and he is 42-16 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. If Lester just tightens up his control a little bit this season he will be in the Cy Young Award race in 2010.

31-year old righty John Lackey was the big signing for the Red Sox over the winter. Lackey started 27 games for the Angels last season and he was 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He now has won 10+ games 7 years in a row and the only thing that could stop him from extended that streak this year is injury. Lackey essentially gives the Red Sox’ three #1 type starters in the rotation.

25-year old righty Clay Buchholz will probably slot as the Red Sox’ #4 starter in 2010. Buchholz started 16 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 7-4 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Buchholz also pitched in 17 games (16 starts) in AAA-ball last season in which he was 7-2 with a 2.36 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He only gave up 67 hits in 99 innings pitched in the minors last season. The Red Sox are banking on Buchholz giving them a solid, complete season in 2010 and I think they will be happy with the results.

The Red Sox are hoping that Daisuke Matsuzaka will step up in 2010. He started 12 games for the Red Sox last season in which he was 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. Matsuzaka gave up 81 hits (10 homers) in only 59 1/3 innings last season for the Red Sox. To me it seemed as if Japan worked Matsuzaka too hard, too early in the WBC and I think it bothered Dice-K all year long in 2009. The Red Sox are hoping to get the Matsuzaka of 2007+2008 when he started 61 games for them and was 33-15 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

43-year old righty knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is back for another season with the Red Sox. He started 21 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 11-5 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. In 11 of Wakefield’s 15 years with the Red Sox Wakefield has won 10+ games. Wakefield is a very dependable pitcher for the Red Sox as he will be in the rotation if Matsuzaka isn’t ready to start the year.

23-year old righty Michael Bowden is the Red Sox’ #13 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Bowden pitched in 8 games (1 start) for the Red Sox last season and he was 1-1 with a 9.56 ERA and a 1.81 WHIP. He also started 24 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 4-6 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. I see him starting the year in AAA for the Red Sox and getting a call if they need him during the season. He also could be a good trade chip for the Red Sox at the trade deadline.

23-year old righty Junichi Tazawa is the Red Sox’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. Tazawa pitched in 6 games (4 starts) for the Red Sox last season and he was 2-3 with a 7.46 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP. He also started 20 games in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 9-7 with a 2.55 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Tazawa will likely start the season in AAA and be one of the first pitchers the Red Sox call up if the need arises.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE ROTATION IN 2010: A