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CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Garrett Crochet keeps getting better for the Boston Red Sox
Garrett Crochet delivered another brilliant performance for the Red Sox on Sunday, as Boston's ace continues to get better and better as the season progresses. The lefty struck out a season-high 12 Braves in a 3-1 Red Sox victory while setting a new career mark for pitches thrown. It was only a few weeks ago that Crochet was lifted after just 85 pitches in an outing against the New York Mets. On Sunday, there was no pitch limit for the 25-year-old in just his second full season as a starter, as Crochet tossed a career-high 112 pitches over his seven innings of one-run ball. Crochet threw 75 of those pitches for strikes, as he hit double digit strikeouts for the second straight start and the third time this season. He scattered five hits and walked just two, and Crochet got even more dominant as the game went on. The Braves got a run off Crochet in the bottom of the first off a solo homer by Marcell Ozuna, but the southpaw sat down the next five hitters he faced before a third-inning walk. Crochet saw Ozuna again in the third inning with two out and runners on the corners, and struck out the Braves DH swinging on three pitches. Atlanta had runners on the corners with no outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Crochet worked out of that jam as well. He got the next three batters -- included two by way of the K -- to escape unscathed. The Braves had runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but Crochet got Matt Olsen to ground out after a six-pitch at-bat to end the frame. Crochet had a 1-2-3 sixth inning with two more punchouts, and went to the dugout with 99 pitches on the afternoon. Usually, that pitch count would spell an end to Crochet's day. But not on Sunday. Crochet's dominant seventh inning After a brief discussion with manager Alex Cora, Crochet went back out for the bottom of the seventh. And it wasn't going to be a brief, one-batter appearance, either. Crochet wanted the entire inning, and he got it. "He told me, 'Let's keep going.' And I was fired up," Crochet said after picking up his fifth win of the season. "I was just hoping it wasn't for [the first batter] only. It's like, 'If you're gonna send me back out, let me go to work.' And he did. And a lot of props to AC for having trust in me there." Crochet was at his filthiest in his final frame, as he struck out the side with relative ease. He got Michael Harris II on three pitches, followed by Nick Allen on four pitches. Both went down on a filthy Crochet sweeper; Harris II swinging and Allen looking. Crochet fell behind Ronald Acuna Jr. with a 3-1 count, but he fought back and fanned Atlanta's dangerous leadoff man with a 91 mph cutter at his knees. Crochet delivered an emphatic fist pump and was greeted with hand shakes, fist bumps, and hugs when he got back to the Boston dugout. Through 13 starts, Crochet has been everything the Red Sox have needed in an ace. He is their bulldog on the mound -- or "pig" as he's come to be known thanks to his filthy stuff -- and guarantees the team will have a chance to win every time he takes the mound. Garrett Crochet's start to his Red Sox career Crochet improved to 5-4 on the season with Sunday's victory, and his ERA sits at just 1.98 for the season -- good for seventh-best among all starting pitchers. He leads the Majors with 82 innings pitched, and opponents are hitting just .203 off Crochet. And how about all the strikeouts? Crochet is up to 101 for the season, tied with Washington's Mackenzie Gore for the most in the big leagues. (Gore has fanned 101 in just 68.1 innings pitched.) On Sunday, Crochet became just the third pitcher to start their Red Sox career with over 100 strikeouts through their first 13 starts, joining Pedro Martinez and Chris Sale. Martinez had 106 strikeouts over his first 13 starts in 1998, while Sale fanned 126 batters in his first 13 outings for Boston in 2017. Garrett Crochet is one of three Red Sox pitchers to start their career with the team with 100+ strikeouts through their first 13 starts. The other two: Chris Sale (2017) Pedro Martinez (1998) — Joe Weil (@Joe_Weil) June 2, 2025 Given how Crochet has looked to start his Red Sox career, it will be no surprise if he's mentioned with the likes of Martinez and Sale a few more times during his time in Boston.
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Craig Breslow had a good offseason, but mistakes have led to Red Sox roster mess
When the 2025 season began with optimism for Boston Red Sox fans and players alike for the first time in years, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow's offseason work to retool the roster was applauded. But a little more than a third of the way through the season, it's becoming increasingly clear that while Breslow addressed some significant holes, he also left the roster vulnerable to injuries, with seemingly little foresight on how the team might handle losses to the projected everyday lineup. Now the Red Sox are stuck with players out of their natural positions while pushing prospects to the big leagues in a pressure-packed environment, expected to perform right away. Advertisement This weekend in Atlanta, the Red Sox took two of three from the Braves, but they still face an uphill battle as they return home on Monday for a three-game series against Tampa Bay. Right-hander Justin Slaten landed on the injury list with shoulder inflammation and Luis Guerrero was recalled as the bullpen continues to be strained. So, how did they get here? First, a reminder of what Breslow did this offseason: • He signed Alex Bregman, a clubhouse leader and veteran right-handed bat. • He made a bold but necessary trade of top prospects for starter Garrett Crochet, who rocketed to the top of a rotation starving for a No. 1 arm. • He bolstered the back end of the bullpen, signing a veteran closer (Aroldis Chapman) and a left-handed reliever (Justin Wilson). • He made a savvy trade for a backup catcher in Carlos Narváez, giving up a lower-level pitching prospect in the deal. Narváez has now caught a majority of the innings this season. By all accounts, these were impactful moves for a roster in need of star players and bona fide big-league talent. For the first six weeks or so of the season, the moves paid off. But for as much credit as Breslow got for those moves, he deserves some criticism, too. There have been mistakes that have had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the roster, and led to a club desperately trying to stay afloat with multiple players forced to learn new positions on the fly. There was no foreshadowing of Triston Casas' season-ending knee injury on May 3 or Bregman's severe quad injury on May 23, one that will keep him out for several weeks. But had the Red Sox better prepared Rafael Devers this offseason for the addition of Bregman, a move that would force Devers off third base and into the designated hitter role, they might have been able to convince Devers to move back to third base or perhaps to start working out at first base when the Casas and Bregman injuries occurred. Instead, a scorned and frustrated Devers has been adamant about not returning to third and has yet to start work at first base, though manager Alex Cora has left the door open for the latter. Devers, of course, is the club's best hitter and in the midst of a monster season as the designated hitter. But is that because he's been DHing? He posted a .916 OPS in 2019 while playing third base. There's no reason to believe Devers wouldn't be putting up the same, or at least similar, numbers had he been playing in the field this season. Had Breslow and the front office communicated with Devers better, maybe — maybe — he would have been more open to returning to the infield when needed, instead of feeling as if the rug had been pulled out from under him when Bregman arrived and took his third-base spot. Advertisement As a result of mismanaging the Devers situation, the Red Sox have had to turn to top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer at third base in Bregman's absence. Mayer, a natural shortstop, had played just six minor-league games at third base before his debut. He's transitioned to the new position well in the early going, but it's still not ideal. 'My job here is to do whatever I can to help the team win,' Mayer said when he debuted in the second game of a doubleheader last homestand. 'I'm gonna go out every single day, give it 100 percent, give it my all, and hopefully that's enough.' Another top prospect at the start of the season, Kristian Campbell, who signed an eight-year, $60 million extension the first week, began pregame work at first base two weeks ago and is expected to see his first game action at the position soon, which will mark his first professional game at first base. 'Whatever makes the team better, that's the position I play,' Campbell said. It's an admirable stance, but is it really making the team better? Shouldn't Breslow have added more first-base depth this winter? Romy Gonzalez and Nick Sogard are fine utility players, but neither are experienced first basemen. Sogard was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, with outfielder Nate Eaton added to the roster. Gonzalez has his own injury history and has been out for the past few weeks after a collision at first base, the infield position at which he'd played the least in his big-league career entering this season. Abraham Toro was signed as a non-roster invitee this winter and added to the big-league club when Casas went down. He's offered solid defense at first and played well of late, but is better suited for a utility role than being thrust into the lineup as the everyday first baseman. It's unrealistic to have top-notch big-league depth at every position, but the fumbles leading up to the injuries of Bregman and Casas have created chaos on the roster and, in part, led to a team that hasn't been able to get out of its own way all season. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Red Sox will continue to play roster roulette when they inevitably promote baseball's No. 1 prospect, outfielder Roman Anthony. To get Anthony regular playing time, the club will likely shift center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, whose 10 Defensive Runs Saved are tied for the most in the majors among outfielders, to the infield. Jarren Duran will likely move from left to center with Anthony sliding into left field. Trevor Story, despite a recent uptick at the plate, could see more time on the bench. Then there's Masataka Yoshida, rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery and still throwing at just 60 feet, who is blocked at designated hitter by Devers and in the outfield by the aforementioned group with Anthony nearing his debut. Given the team's offensive struggles, getting Yoshida at-bats at DH rather than waiting for his shoulder to heal could have helped their situation. But with Devers at DH, there's no room on the roster. Cora is by no means blameless for the team's current struggles. He's made some moves worth questioning, but at the same time, he's also working with the roster he's been given, one that resembles a puzzle with multiple missing pieces. For as good as the Red Sox and their fan base felt in spring training, the optimism that the team will contend is questionable at best as the calendar has flipped to June. Perhaps early trade deadline moves can rejuvenate the team and help Breslow reconfigure what has turned into a disappointing mess of a season so far. (Top photo of Breslow: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MLB Insider Explains Possibility of Red Sox Aroldis Chapman Being Traded
MLB Insider Explains Possibility of Red Sox Aroldis Chapman Being Traded originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Boston Red Sox are 28-32 on the season, and are in a position where, if things don't start to turn around, they could make changes to their roster as MLB's trade deadline looms. Boston is currently fourth in the American League East and sits 8.5 games back of the New York Yankees. So, the season hasn't quite gone according to plan for the Red Sox, despite an offseason where they addressed their top needs. Advertisement However, closer Aroldis Chapman is putting together a quality season for Boston. He has eight saves over 23 innings pitched and an ERA of 1.96. Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes that Chapman could potentially draw trade interest if the Red Sox don't turn the season around and get back into contention. Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) during the first day of spring training at Jet Blue Park at Fenway Tilley-Imagn Images 'Scouts already are keeping an eye on Boston Red Sox reliever Aroldis Chapman, who will be a hot commodity at the trade deadline if the Red Sox fall out of the AL East race.' Chapman was one of the Red Sox's offseason acquisitions, and like others, including Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet, he has contributed to the team this season. A trade for Chapman would have to include some starting pitching for Boston, and maybe a top prospect that can play somewhere on the infield. Advertisement As Bregman seems to be out for potentially another month, the season has not gone according to plan for manager Alex Cora and Boston. However, it's a long season, and there's a lot of baseball left to be played, but Chapman is a good name to keep an eye on come July. Related: Alex Bregman Gives One-Word Praise to Red Sox Youngster Marcelo Mayer This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford inching toward return after latest update
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford inching toward return after latest update originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Pitching support is coming for the Boston Red Sox. Starting pitcher Kutter Crawford is expected to begin his rehab assignment this week, according to Chris Cotillo of Mass Live. Advertisement Crawford has not yet pitched for the Red Sox this season as he is on the 60-day injured list with patellar tendon soreness in his right knee. His return will be a welcome sight for a struggling Boston squad, which finds itself at 28-32 and in fourth place in the American League East. Crawford had his ups and downs in 2024, leading the Majors in both losses (16) and home runs allowed (34). However, over 33 starts (also good for the most in baseball) and 183 and 2/3 innings, he recorded a 4.36 ERA, a 4.65 FIP, and 175 strikeouts to 51 walks. Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford (50) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Fluharty-Imagn Images That campaign was not quite up to snuff considering his 2023 totals (4.04 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 135 strikeouts to 36 walks over 129 and 1/3 innings), but he can still add value to this Red Sox rotation. Advertisement However, once Crawford is healthy, there is not necessarily a designated role cut out for him. Garrett Crochet (2.04 ERA, 2.71 FIP) is not going anywhere. Walker Buehler (4.44 ERA, 4.74 FIP), Brayan Bello (3.83 ERA, 5.06 FIP), and Lucas Giolito (4.78 ERA, 4.43 FIP) should all maintain starts, too. Then there is the rookie, Hunter Dobbins, who has impressed so far with a 4.35 ERA, a 3.24 FIP, and 33 strikeouts to nine walks over his first 39 and 1/3 innings. Perhaps manager Alex Cora rolls with a six-man rotation, or Crawford could take on long relief duties. Regardless of Boston's exact strategy, you can never have too many arms. Related: Red Sox Closer Aroldis Chapman Draws Trade Interest Related: Red Sox Make Alex Cora Announcement Before Latest Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Story knocks in 3 runs and Crochet strikes out 12 in 7 innings to lead Red Sox past Braves 3-1
The Red Sox are in a free fall. How does this get fixed? The Red Sox are in a free fall. How does this get fixed? The Red Sox are in a free fall. How does this get fixed? By RICK FARLOW , Associated Press Trevor Story had a three-run double in the first inning and Garrett Crochet struck out 12 in seven innings of one-run ball, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Story went 2 for 3 and just missed a grand slam in the first when he hit a 1-0 pitch from Bryce Elder 413 feet off the top of the wall in center, driving in Boston's only runs. Story had a big series in Atlanta, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer in a 5-1 Red Sox win Friday. Crochet (5-4) has pitched at least five innings in all 13 of his starts this season with eight quality outings. The 25-year-old left-hander has a streak of 13 outings with at least five innings pitched. That surpasses his career-best run of 12 straight from April 29, 2024 to June 30, 2024. Crochet is tied with Washington's MacKenzie Gore for the major league lead with 101 strikeouts this season. Aroldis Chapman earned his ninth save for the Braves. Marcell Ozuna accounted for Atlanta's only run with a solo homer, his 10th of the season, in the bottom of the first. Elder (2-3) allowed six hits and three earned runs, with four strikeouts and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. Key moment The Braves threatened in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Olson hit a leadoff double and moved to third on Ozzie Albies' single with no outs. Crochet then retired the next three batters in order, shutting down the threat. Key stat Crochet became the first pitcher to have 12 or more strikeouts in a game against Atlanta since Philadelphia's Zack Wheeler struck out 12 on May 7, 2023. Up next The Braves are off on Monday and are scheduled to throw RHP Spencer Strider (0-3, 4.50 ERA) against Arizona RHP Zac Gallen (3-7, 5.54) in their series opener on Tuesday. The Red Sox plan to throw RHP Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.83 ERA) against LHP Yusei Kikuchi (1-5, 3.06) and the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
