The Boston Red Sox’s dominant run is bolstered by Garrett Crochet’s return to the mound after an eight-day break between starts. Tuesday night’s impressive performance against the Kansas City Royals highlighted Crochet’s renewed energy and strength, as he delivered seven solid innings with just two earned runs and eight strikeouts. This display reinforced his critical role in the Red Sox’s bid for the Cy Young Award this season.
Despite not being sidelined due to injury, manager Alex Cora chose to give Crochet some extra recovery time since his last outing on July 26 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This strategy appears to have paid off, with Crochet regularly hitting 98 miles per hour on his fastball, showcasing a refreshed and confident pitcher.
Red Sox Manager Confident in Crochet’s Future Workload
Alex Cora has signaled a shift in how Crochet’s schedule will be managed moving forward. After consulting with the pitcher, the team will minimize skipped starts unless health concerns arise, choosing instead to utilize off days strategically. Cora explained,
“I think this is the last time we’re going to skip a start from now on, obviously, if he stays healthy. From now on, we’ll use the off days to our advantage.”
Addressing the importance of discipline in managing Crochet’s innings, Cora added,
“This is something we talked about before the All-Star Game. Overall, we’ve stayed very disciplined, including himself, because it’s hard, right? He wants to pitch, he wants to contribute. For everybody now, we’re good. (We can) shake hands: this is what we’re going to do. Now, we’re gonna let him go.”
Career Milestones and League-Leading Performance
This season, Crochet has pitched 148 1/3 innings, surpassing his previous career-high of 146 innings set last year with the Chicago White Sox. This marks him as the major league leader in innings pitched. Additionally, Crochet has reclaimed the major league strikeout lead with 183 strikeouts, narrowly ahead of fellow Cy Young contenders Tarik Skubal and Zack Wheeler.
His winning record remains exceptional, with a personal mark of 9-0 over his last 11 starts. Remarkably, the only loss in those outings came in a performance where Crochet pitched seven scoreless innings. His dominance on the mound has made him a near-automatic key to victory for the Red Sox.
Red Sox Place High Hopes on Crochet’s Breakout Season
At 26 years old, Crochet has shown no indication of declining, and the organization’s confidence in his ability to handle a heavier workload is evident. Both Cora and the broader team are prepared to back Crochet as he ventures into new territory for his career.
With his consistent dominance, Crochet is a central figure in the Red Sox’s quest for Cy Young recognition and serves as a cornerstone of their pitching staff as the season progresses.