Jon Lester has emerged as one of the top starters in baseball while Clay Buchholz has shown flashes of brilliance and bouts of inconsistency. How will Boston's next pitching phenom fare in the big leagues? Red Sox Nation will get its first glimpse of right-hander Michael Bowden when he makes his major league debut tomorrow at Fenway Park against the Chicago White Sox.
Originally, David Pauley was slated to fill in for Josh Beckett, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list today. Tonight, it was announced that Bowden will get the call. This is exciting news for the 21-year-old right-hander who was Boston's first round pick in 2005, and the Red Sox organization. Bowden dominated Double-A hitters at Portland earlier this year before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he posted an 0-3 record with a 3.38 ERA in six starts. The overall numbers at Triple-A are not astounding, but Bowden has recorded four consecutive quality starts, including three straight appearances when he allowed one run over six innings in each outing.
Bowden's arsenal includes a four-seam fast ball that ranges between 92-95 and has a late sinking movement, a nasty 12-to-6 curve and a circle change-up. Importantly, he has good command. In 104.1 innings at Portland, Bowden walked 24. He had five walks in 40 innings at Pawtucket.
This will likely be Bowden's only start with the Red Sox this season. Chances are, he will remain with the big league team in September as an additional relief arm. Ditto for Pauley, who has good command of his pitches, too.
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