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David Price or Chris Sale: Who’s the Red Sox’ true No. 1 ace, and does it matter?

COMMENTARY

Jon Lester had Felix Doubront. Bruce Hurst had John Tudor. Mel Parnell had Chuck Stobbs, Lefty Grove had Fritz Ostermueller and Babe Ruth had Dutch Leonard.

Which is to say the Red Sox have never had anything like they will beginning in 2017.

There may be a historical precedent for why Boston has never gone as lefty-heavy as they might this season, with Chris Sale, David Price, Drew Pomeranz, and Eduardo Rodriguez potentially enveloping righty Rick Porcello in the starting rotation. Fenway Park’s Green Monster has long welcomed — and teased — right-handed hitters, perhaps creating a fallacy that left-handed pitchers might struggle when calling the place their home turf.