Garrett Crochet has firmly established himself as one of the top starting pitchers in Major League Baseball this season. The 26-year-old Boston Red Sox pitcher holds a 2.19 ERA while pitching a league-leading 135 1/3 innings, accumulating 165 strikeouts as he competes in a highly competitive American League Cy Young Award race alongside 2024 winner Tarik Skubal.
MLB Network’s Midseason Rankings Place Crochet at No. 5
After not appearing on the preseason list, Crochet surged to fifth place in MLB Network’s midseason top-10 starting pitching rankings, announced on Tuesday’s MLB Now. He trails Tarik Skubal, Zack Wheeler, Paul Skenes, and former Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale. Despite this placement, some analysts argue Crochet deserves a higher spot.
Analysts Advocate for Higher Rankings
Former Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy and New York Post columnist Joel Sherman both ranked Crochet third in their personal assessments. Peavy emphasized the challenge left-handed pitchers like Crochet pose to opposing teams, stating,
“There’s something to deceptive left-handed starters that give teams fits,”
with the addition,
Crochet fits that mold for me.
Sherman placed Skubal and Skenes above Crochet but highlighted Crochet’s consistency with nine starts allowing two earned runs or fewer across at least seven innings. He also pointed out that Boston’s offseason addition has exceeded expectations in workload, having thrown a career-high 146 innings last year.
Durability and Performance Against Strong Opponents
Sherman addressed concerns about Crochet’s stamina, saying,
“The question about Crochet coming into the season was about durability, right? How he was used last year, etc. This guy’s a bulldog,”
underscoring Crochet’s resilience. Sherman further noted Crochet’s impressive 2.56 ERA when facing top-10 offenses, a stat that will be tested as he prepares to start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the majors‘ highest-scoring team, in an upcoming game.
Looking Ahead: Crochet’s Role in the Cy Young Race
Garrett Crochet’s advancement in the Garrett Crochet MLB starting pitcher rankings reflects his growing status as a frontline starter. His strong ERA, strikeout numbers, and innings pitched position him well in the Cy Young conversation. How he performs against strong lineups like the Dodgers could further solidify his standing among baseball’s elite pitchers.