Porcello bringing pinpoint control to Game 1

BOSTON — The most striking thing about Rick Porcello’s breakout season? All those strikes.

Porcello, who starts Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Cleveland on Thursday (on TBS), displayed pinpoint control all season, a primary reason he is one of the leading candidates for the AL Cy Young Award.

The sinkerballer led the AL with a 5.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Porcello’s 1.29 walks-per-nine innings mark was second in the Majors. By being so efficient, Porcello was able to log a career-high of 223 innings and win a Major League-leading 22 games.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 6 TBD BOS @ CLE TBS Gm 2 Oct. 7 TBD BOS @ CLE TBS Gm 3 Oct. 9 TBD CLE @ BOS TBS *Gm 4 Oct. 10 TBD CLE @ BOS TBS *Gm 5 Oct. 12 TBD BOS @ CLE TBS *- If necessaryShop for postseason gear: Red Sox | Indians • Complete Postseason coverage

Porcello credits pitching coach Carl Willis and bullpen coach Dana LeVangie for helping him pitch the best baseball of his career this season.

“Myself, Carl and Dana, we had conversations about attacking guys and kind of blending my mix of pitches and attacking their weaknesses,” Porcello said. “That sounds like something …

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