The Boston Red Sox have a glaring concern less than one month before the MLB postseason arrives.
Garrett Crochet, acquired in December of 2024 from the Chicago White Sox, was the biggest trade that the Red Sox have made for a pitcher since Chris Sale in December of 2016. Very ironic, isn't it?
The Red Sox love their big lefty aces, and Crochet is no different. He initially lived up to the hype to begin the 2025 season, posting a 2.24 ERA, a league-leading 183 strikeouts, 2.51 FIP, and 1,531 strikeouts across 148 1/3 innings in his first 24 starts.
But since the Houston series in mid-August, Crochet has been a much different pitcher. He's posted a 4.80 ERA with a 4.87 FIP, giving up 16 earned runs and 30 hits out of the 124 batters he faced in his last five games. That's without mentioning how he's also given up eight home runs during that stretch.
Red Sox LHP Garrett Crochet is on Thin Ice Before MLB Playoffs
Crochet has always been, and will always be, a strikeout pitcher. He still struck out 35 batters in those five starts, but it doesn't matter how many he strikes out when he's been slowly falling apart going into September.
The Red Sox need Crochet to be himself if they want to challenge for the World Series. Despite his recent struggles, he's still had some decently bright moments. Still, the good must outweigh the bad at this time of the year. Boston can't afford to watch him implode like he did against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, surrendering seven earned runs and four homers on nine hits.
It's the type of performance that would've been unfathomable at the start of the season. Now? It's a growing concern.
At the end of the day, Crochet needs to perform well, with his next opportunity to prove himself likely coming against the Athletics next week. The A's have a young and hungry offense, so they shouldn't be underestimated.
Whether it's a rough patch or not, Crochet needs to fix himself before October hits, or else the Red Sox season might end prematurely again.