Boston Red Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa is struggling, to say the least. It’s simple to say and easy to prove.
Just look at his numbers, starting with his career-worst 4.79 ERA. He has given up 22 earned runs in 44.1 innings pitched so far this season (he gave up 20 earned runs in 63 innings pitched just two years ago with the Red Sox).
But who’s to blame here? Obviously it’s tough to blame anyone but Tazawa after his appearance where he gave up 3 runs without recording an out en route to a loss to the Detroit Tigers, but could this recent struggle on the mound be because he has been overworked?