Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet continues to enhance his standing in the AL Cy Young Award race thanks to an impressive first half of the season. As of the latest MLB.com rankings by David Adler, Crochet holds the No. 5 spot among pitchers, moving up two positions from the previous update. His outstanding performance has made him one of the top contenders for the award this year.
Current Leaders and Comparisons Among Top AL Pitchers
The only pitchers ranked ahead of Crochet in the American League are Detroit Tigers ace and reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, along with Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom. Adler noted,
“Crochet is Skubal’s other top challenger for the AL Cy Young Award right now,”
indicating how close the race has become. Crochet leads the majors with 160 strikeouts and has pitched the most innings at 129⅓, while his 2.23 ERA ties him with Skubal for the best in the AL.
Adding to his credentials, Crochet finished the first half with a complete game shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays, striking out nine batters—the first complete game of his career, Adler added.
Despite Crochet’s statistical superiority, deGrom remains ranked ahead of him, which raises questions when comparing their first half numbers. Crochet’s 2.23 ERA ranks first in the AL, accompanied by 10 wins (tied for second), and a WAR of 4.0, third in the league. In contrast, deGrom has a 2.32 ERA (third), 9 wins (tied for sixth), and fewer innings pitched at 112⅓ with 113 strikeouts, placing him lower in the race.
Alternative Rankings Highlight Boston Lefty’s Rising Status
Further supporting Crochet’s strong position in the Cy Young race, ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle ranks him as the No. 2 pitcher in the American League. This list features Houston Astros’ Framber Valdez and Minnesota Twins’ Joe Ryan—who is also a Red Sox trade target—tied for third. Interestingly, Doolittle’s ranking places Nathan Eovaldi, former Red Sox right-hander now with the Texas Rangers, ahead of deGrom on his list.
Doolittle praised Crochet’s stellar first half, remarking,
“Crochet has been coming on like gangbusters, as has the team around him,”
and highlighted Crochet’s complete-game, three-hit shutout of Tampa Bay, which narrowed the gap between him and Skubal in the competition.
He further emphasized Crochet’s dominance, saying,
“Crochet leads the AL in innings pitched (129⅓), strikeouts (160) and ERA+ (185). We’ve seen Skubal do this for a full season; now, it’s up to Crochet to prove he can match the reigning Cy Young winner start for start in what’s shaping up as a great race,”
underscoring the promising battle ahead.
Understanding the AXE Rating System in the Cy Young Evaluation
The AXE rating mentioned by Doolittle is a measurement tool combining various publicly available value metrics to produce a consensus evaluation of players’ performances. This rating system helps provide a comprehensive view of the pitchers’ effectiveness beyond traditional statistics.
What Crochet’s Performance Means for the Red Sox
With his current form, Garrett Crochet aims to become the first Boston Red Sox pitcher to secure the AL Cy Young Award since Rick Porcello’s win in 2016. His ability to lead in critical pitching categories and maintain a competitive edge against established stars like Skubal and deGrom positions him as a key figure to watch in the remainder of the season. How he sustains this momentum could significantly impact the AL Cy Young race and the Red Sox’s pitching legacy.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What rank is Garrett Crochet?
A. Crochet is currently ranked fifth among starting pitchers in the American League. At 26 years old, he has achieved a personal best with eight wins. Additionally, he’s expected to reach new records in both his ERA and WAR.
Q. Why was Garrett Crochet pulled?
A. Boston Red Sox star pitcher Garrett Crochet decided not to participate in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. He wants to ensure his arm stays strong for the rest of the season.
Q. Is Garrett Crochet any good?
A. He was included on the Opening Day roster for the second time in his career, first being in 2021 with the Chicago White Sox. He achieved his first All-Star selection.
He was fourth in the American League and seventh in Major League Baseball for strikeouts, with 209 in 146 innings. Among pitchers who threw at least 140 innings, he led in strikeouts per nine innings with 12.88.
He was third in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 6.33 and fifth in opponent on-base percentage, holding them to .271.
Q. How good is Garrett Crochet?
A. Crochet has been outstanding for the Red Sox, with a 2.39 ERA and 1.09 WHIP this season. He has the most strikeouts in baseball, totaling 151, and has allowed only 34 walks. Casey Mize from Detroit, holding a 9-2 record and a 2.63 ERA, is replacing Crochet on the American League team.