He was supposed to be a high-priced stopper, but he’s been everything but so far in his short-lived career in Boston.

Embattled Red Sox starter Rick Porcello — he of the 4-9 record and 6.08 ERA, dead-last among qualified starters in the American League by nearly half a run — will make the most important start while wearing a Red Sox uniform Wednesday night against the Marlins.

With the Sox on a three-game win streak and desperately trying to gain ground in the AL East (where they’re now just five games back), another bad outing by Porcello could see the rich righthander removed from the Red Sox rotation.


Porcello was particularly bad in his last outing where he gave up seven runs in two innings and halted the Red Sox’ last three-game winning streak against the Blue Jays in Toronto. It was the seventh straight loss for Porcello.

Former Red Sox ace and ESPN baseball analyst Curt Schilling says the pressure is on for Porcello in Wednesday’s start.

“Anytime you put a professional athlete in a corner – and he knows it and there’s no way to hide it … Some of my biggest moments happened inside of games,’’ Schilling said during his weekly appearance on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan show. “Maybe nobody else noticed them, but they were moments I relied on the rest of my career. He’s going out there today, they’ve righted the ship, he’s the one guy that’s still floundering, he’s going out there knowing he has to be good tonight, knowing he needs to protect his turf, protect his spot.’’

As a former starter himself, Schilling is looking forward to the moment to see if Porcello can step up and master the challenge.

“I love it because now you’re going to know how Rick Porcello feels or pitches under pressure,’’ Schilling said. “This is pressure. This is as much pressure as you can get, I think, besides a playoff game because when you’re going out there every start, I promise you, there’s a lack of confidence. You can’t continue to be confident when you’re getting your head kicked in. If you are continuing to be confident, you’re pitching in Triple-A. He’s going out tonight, to me, with the weight of the world on his shoulders even if you don’t think he is, because he’s putting it on himself.’’


One thing besides the Marlins light-hitting lineup that may make things a bit easier for Porcello tonight is having catcher Ryan Hanigan back behind the plate.

The three games in which Hanigan has caught Porcello, the Red Sox have won and Porcello checked in with a respectable 3.79 ERA.

Hanigan and Porcello have had a heart-to-heart talk since Hanigan returned from the disabled list after suffering a hand injury.

“We had a long talk about a lot of things, but I’m looking forward to catching him,’’ Hanigan told The Boston Globe. “I think he’s excited as well. He’s going to be fine. He’s gone through a bump in the road, it hasn’t been fun for him I’m sure, but he’s going to make a few adjustments.’’

The 26-year-old Porcello remains positive about stepping back on the mound tonight.

“I’m looking forward to getting back out there,’’ Porcello said. “I want to go have a positive start, keep us in the game, give us a chance to win, and do all the things I know I’m capable of doing. So I’m looking forward to it.’’

In April, the Red Sox signed Porcello to a four-year contract worth $82.5 million that runs though the 2019 season.

The most lucrative contracts in Red Sox history