Closing Time: Red Sox prospect Eduardo Rodriguez gets the call

Boston's starting rotation has been mostly dreadful this season, delivering a combined ERA north of 5.00. When you consider the rogue's gallery of pitchers who've made starts for the Red Sox this year — Miley, Porcello, Masterson, Buchholz, Kelly and Wright — it's actually kind of remarkable that the team is only five games under .500.

[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football is back: Sign up for a league today!]

Into this swamp of mediocrity now steps Eduardo Rodriguez, one of the more intriguing left-handed pitching prospects in baseball. Rodriquez, 22, has been called up for a Thursday start at Texas. He's been fantastic in eight starts at Triple-A Pawtucket so far this season, posting a 2.98 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, striking out 44 batters in 48.1 innings while issuing only seven walks. Rodriguez was acquired from Baltimore in the Andrew Miller deal last year, and he began pitching brilliantly as soon as he left the O's system. Over a half-dozen appearances for Double-A Portland last season, he went 3-1 with a 0.96 ERA, whiffing 39 hitters in 37.1 innings.

Rodriguez mixes mid-90s heat with a quality slider and change. Here's a highlight reel, if you're prospecting.

For now, the plan is for Rodriguez to return to Pawtucket following Thursday's outing. Boston is simply looking for a spot-start, since the team is in the middle of a stretch of 20 games without an off-day. But if he dazzles in his big league debut, there's always a chance he'll stick around...

With prospects, there's always a wide range of outcomes, of course. No promises with Rodriguez, but Thursday's start is worth watching.

• Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams suffered a significant quadriceps injury, and surgery has been scheduled for Friday. Realistically, this could be a season-ender. Brutal news. For the moment, Mark Reynolds takes over at first, offering his usual blend of Kingmanesque power and average. Use at your own risk; Reynolds isn't for everyone.

• Nelson Cruz crushed a no-doubt 430-foot home run off Brad Boxberger in the ninth at Tampa Bay on Wednesday (into the stingray pool!), the second time in as many days that the Rays' closer has taken a loss via long ball. I doubt Boxberger is at great risk of job loss any time soon, however, because Jake McGee was knocked around on Tuesday, and his velocity has been down a couple ticks.

• Brad Ziegler blew a save chance and took a loss on Wednesday, allowing two walks, two hits and a homer from Jason Heyward. The game really had a messy ending, too. Click for details. Arizona's bullpen is full of bad ideas these days, so please don't fret, Ziegler Nation.