With just under three weeks until Opening Day, the Boston Red Sox pitching staff is entering the new season with multiple question marks. It remains to be seen if Chris Sale can resurge, or if Brayan Bello can ascend into the ace that teams seem to need in order to make a serious run.
It’ll be interesting to see if this 2023 squad has an ace in the rotation. In the last two decades the Sox have been lucky to see a lot of talent from their pitchers, and some dominant seasons.
What are the 5 best seasons from a Boston Red Sox Pitcher since 2000?
There is no shortage of options for this list, and there are certainly more than five that are deserving of being on it. It should be noted that this list is not the top five pitchers in Boston’s history, it’s highlighting the best seasons we’ve seen since 2000.
Jonathon Papelbon in 2006 posted a 0.92 ERA over 68.1 IP. He was a fan favorite who was feared on the mound for good reason. However, being a starter unfortunately carries more weight and that is the only reason Pap doesn’t make the cut here.
In 2010 Clay Buchholz went 17-7 while leading the league in ERA+. Buchholz was an All-star in what was a breakout year for him.
Maybe the biggest snub from the list is the shocking Cy Young season from Rick Porcello in 2016. Stats like ERA and WAR were steps below Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, but Porcello’s 22-4 record was hard to overlook. Average strikeout numbers and lack of team success keep him off the list.
There are even more great seasons that could be argued for that are left off, but these 5 campaigns are all more impressive in my opinion.
No. 5 – Josh Beckett during the Boston Red Sox 2007 season
In 2007 the Red Sox won it all in what was a magical year all around. Josh Beckett was one of the cornerstones that dominated all season to carry Boston to the promise land.
Beckett finished second in Cy Young voting and was as reliable as he was filthy. Starting 30 games for Boston and picking up wins in 20 of them feels like an automatic win for the team every five days. Even just the mentality that brings into the clubhouse is invaluable.
His stuff on the mound certainly didn’t waiver in the playoff run where he went 4-0 and finished a complete game against the Angels in the ALDS.
This came after the grind of a 200 IP, All-Star season, posting a 3.27 ERA and just under 200 strikeouts. With that, and the championship to top it off, Beckett rightfully sneaks onto the list.
No. 4 – Derek Lowe during the Boston Red Sox 2002 season
The first few years in the majors were up and down for Derek Lowe. He was a starter, then moved to the bullpen, and had some struggles.
In 2000 he found success closing games for the Red Sox, but he couldn’t hold the job and eventually was led back into a starter role.
In 2002, Lowe locked it in. His first year back in the rotation he posted a 2.58 ERA in 219.2 IP. Lowe finished third in Cy young Voting and truly was a pleasant surprise for the Sox.
He had by far the best WAR of his career with a whopping 7.2. He was a breakout and a menace on the mound that year for Boston.
Despite his best efforts, the Red Sox won a pedestrian 93 games and missed the post season. Had he made a playoff run of the same caliber as his regular season numbers, he might be higher on this list.
No. 3 – Chris Sale during the Boston Red Sox 2018 season
The only active player on the list comes from Chris Sale and his 2018 season. He was the ace of arguably the best Red Sox team in the franchise’s decorated history.
Sale was on the tail-end of seven straight All-Star appearances, and despite it being the last of his stretch of dominance, 2018 was arguable Sale’s best season.
The Red Sox won it all after winning 108 games in the regular season. Sale was breathing fire all year with a 2.11 ERA and a scary K/9 of 13.5 (best of his career).
With on of the best slider/fastball combos the MLB has ever seen at the height of its powers, Chris Sale was a nightmare for hitters.
In a poetic fashion, Sale threw the last pitch of the World Series striking out Dodgers’ Manny Machado.
Unfortunately, injuries have knocked Sale off of his pedistal and hopefully he can regain his status this season.
No. 2 – Curt Schilling during the Boston Red Sox 2004 season
On another all-time Red Sox team comes the runner up on the list. Schill was on the backend of his long career and came to Boston in search of a ring.
Past his prime, with a lot of wear and tear, Curt Schilling exceeded expectations. He finished second in the Cy Young race, and led the league in wins with 21.
On a stacked team, there was no greater display of toughness and competitiveness than Schill. Everyone remembers the ‘bloody sock game‘, where Schilling shut down the Yankees on one leg to force a Game 7 in what turned into the best series comeback in MLB history.
The gutsy performance came after Schilling got knocked around in his Game 1 start, making the outing all the more impressive.
Minus Game 1 in the ALCS, he allowed just five runs in his other three starts. His statistics alone might not get him this high on the list, but playing your best baseball in the biggest moments carries a lot of weight.
No. 1 – Pedro Martinez during the Boston Red Sox 2000 season
The only easy decision in making this list was putting Pedro’s 2000 season at number one. Pedro Martinez is a legitimate argument for the greatest pitcher to ever do it and he was as nasty as they come.
In 2000 his numbers were laughable: 1.74 ERA, four complete game shutouts, 284 strikeouts, 0.737 WHIP–all league-leading marks.
Pedro won his third Cy Young award in just four years while also finishing fifth in the MVP race.
He was touching high 90s with the fastball, his control was immaculate, and his off-speed pitches were lethal. A power-curve paired with a changeup that had insane arm-side run made hitters look foolish.
2000 was Pedro at the true height of his powers and the numbers show that there was no answer for him.
It arguably was the greatest season of his Hall of Fame career, and was by far the best season from a Boston Red Sox pitcher since 2000.