The latest American League Cy Young Award projections place Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet in third place, trailing Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal and Houston Astros’ Hunter Brown, according to an MLB.com poll of 49 experts. Despite Crochet’s strong season performance, he did not receive a single first-place vote, illustrating a challenging outlook for his Cy Young Award chances.
Tarik Skubal Leads Voting with Overwhelming Support
Tarik Skubal dominated the voting, capturing 47 of the 49 first-place votes. Hunter Brown and New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried each received one first-place vote, while Crochet was notably absent from the top spot. Skubal’s dominance in this poll reflects his impactful presence on the mound for the Detroit Tigers.
Crochet’s Impressive First Season with Boston
Although Crochet didn’t earn the top votes, his first season with the Red Sox has been impressive. As noted by MLB.com’s Jason Foster,
“Crochet has given the Red Sox exactly the ace-level performance they wanted when they acquired him from the White Sox in the offseason,”
highlighting Crochet’s key role for his team. Crochet currently holds a 9-4 record with a 2.34 ERA, leads the Major Leagues with 151 strikeouts, and shares the MLB lead in innings pitched with 120 1/3.
Consistency and Performance Highlights
Crochet has demonstrated remarkable consistency,
“holding opponents to two or fewer earned runs 16 times, including a stretch of seven straight starts from late April to early June,”
according to Foster. This level of sustained performance underlines his value to the Red Sox pitching staff during the current season.
Upcoming Starts and All-Star Game Prospects
Both Crochet and key competitors are expected to pitch in upcoming starts; Crochet is slated to pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, the same day Skubal faces the Seattle Mariners and Fried battles the Chicago Cubs. With these performances on the horizon, one of these three pitchers is likely to earn the starting spot for the American League in next week’s All-Star Game.
Hunter Brown’s Recent Performance and Impact
Hunter Brown, who remains in the Cy Young conversation, likely concluded the first half of his season with a start against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday. In that outing, Brown allowed six runs over six innings, including surrendering two home runs, which raised his ERA to 2.21. This recent performance may affect his standing in the expert poll moving forward.
The Red Sox and the Quest for Another Cy Young Winner
Garrett Crochet seeks to become the first Red Sox pitcher to secure the Cy Young Award since Rick Porcello achieved the honor in 2016. While his current trajectory places him behind Skubal and Brown in expert estimations, Crochet’s strong numbers and consistent outings keep him in the conversation as the second half of the season unfolds.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Garrett Crochet’s nickname?
A. Find out why Lou Merloni amusingly calls Garrett Crochet “the pig” and how this sheds light on their relationship!