Red Sox Manager Challenges Starting Pitchers to 'Step Up' After Early Struggles
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The Boston Red Sox moved to add left-handed ace Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox this past offseason, and he has been as advertised, posting a 2.00 ERA through his first 10 starts. But the rest of the staff has not been as efficient.
Entering Tuesday, Red Sox starters ranked 23rd in Major League Baseball with a 4.40 ERA over their 49 combined starts. The Red Sox do not have a true No. 2 starter. Their best option, Tanner Houck, is coming off an All-Star season but has imploded on the mound with an 8.04 ERA this year.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 16: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the seventh inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 16: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the seventh inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
Photo by Maddie Malhotra/BostonWalker Buehler, who signed with the Red Sox in the winter, is 4-1 on the season but has missed starts due to a shoulder injury. Buehler has a good chance at bouncing back and returning to the former Cy Young Award candidate he once was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Alex Cora spoke with reporters and was upfront about the current situation.
"They need to step up," Cora said, according to Heavy. "That's the bottom line. We have to step up as a rotation. It's not only Garrett. It's everybody. We have to do a better job as a group."
The Red Sox were on a promising track last season before faltering down the stretch and missing the playoffs. They were aggressive in the offseason to revamp the pitching staff for a return trip to October, but outside of Crochet, Boston's pitching has not been up to par with the rest of the AL's playoff hopefuls.
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