Eduardo Rodriguez has developed into a Red Sox workhorse

BOSTON --- Eduardo Rodriguez takes the ball for Wednesday’s series finale against the Royals, and he’ll be expected to work deep into the game.

The 26-year-old left-hander has gradually developed into a workhorse on the Red Sox staff this season. Rodriguez tops Boston with 135 1/3 innings pitched and has made the same number of starts as Chris Sale and Rick Porcello at 23. He’s recorded at least one out in the sixth inning in 15 of his last 17 appearances. [...]

BOSTON --- Eduardo Rodriguez takes the ball for Wednesday’s series finale against the Royals, and he’ll be expected to work deep into the game.

The 26-year-old left-hander has gradually developed into a workhorse on the Red Sox staff this season. Rodriguez tops Boston with 135 1/3 innings pitched and has made the same number of starts as Chris Sale and Rick Porcello at 23. He’s recorded at least one out in the sixth inning in 15 of his last 17 appearances.

“We joke with him – the saying ‘five and dive,’” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “And there’s no more of that. He’s actually looking to go more.”

Rodriguez lasted 6 2/3 innings Friday night at Yankee Stadium after allowing a grand slam to Gleyber Torres in the bottom of the first. There was no implosion that has marked some starts earlier in Rodriguez’s career – no surrender after 4 1/3 innings and more runs allowed, for example. He held the Yankees right there in what was eventually a 4-2 loss.

“He has a lot of confidence,” Cora said. “Coming into the season he was healthy for the first time. He was in great shape – the best shape of his life.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25