Josh Winckowski is making a compelling case for a rotation spot

With Opening Day quickly approaching, a few roles on the Red Sox roster are still up for grabs. That includes the fifth rotation spot, which Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Josh Winckowski are competing for. While spring training is far from over, Winckowski has gotten off to an impressive start.

Through two outings, the Toledo native has posted a 1.93 ERA and struck out three batters. In that span, he has held opponents to a .133 batting average. While Winckowski has a small sample size, he is making the most of his opportunities. Red Sox Manager Alex Cora has taken notice.

“Josh is a good pitcher with a good repertoire,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters before his second start. “His changeup (Feb. 28 against Washington) was really good. It’s a different one because it’s firm, it’s hard, but the action is really good.”

During the 2023 campaign, Winckowski was primarily used as a reliever and showed he has the stuff to be successful in the majors. In 84.1 innings, the 25-year-old posted a 2.88 ERA and added 19 holds to his resume. He also struck out 82 batters and became one of Cora’s go-to options.

Regardless of the role Winckowski plays, he will be a valuable arm. The Red Sox lost a key member of the rotation earlier this week in, Lucas Giolito. The veteran starter is expected to miss the whole season after being diagnosed with a partial tear of the right ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor strain, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

While the Red Sox will rely on Winckowski more than ever, it is a challenge he is ready for with 154.2 major league innings under his belt.

"You're always learning and evolving your game," Winckowski told The News-Press's Chris Nelson. "In 2022, maybe wasn't quite ready for the big leagues. But from then to now, I feel like a completely different pitcher."

His main focus now is showing that he can handle a starter's workload.