Lucas Giolito had a great seven-game stretch with the Boston Red Sox before the MLB All-Star Break. If there were someone that any manager would want in his rotation, it would be the June 10 - July 9 version of Giolito.
In that time, he had an ERA of 0.70 with 37 strikeouts, giving up only three earned runs. This was the Giolito that the Red Sox were looking for since his signing, and it seemed like he was coming back to his old form.
Having said that, his two appearances after the All-Star Break begged to differ. Against two serious playoff contenders (Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies), he struggled. He's posted an 8.68 ERA with only eight strikeouts and has given up nine earned runs on 11 hits. He's only pitched 9.1 innings in those two games, which means that he hasn't gotten past the sixth inning in either outing (5.1 was his best).
Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito Needs Strong 2nd Half to Stay in Boston
Here's the problem with Giolito, and it's been said here since the beginning of the season: The Red Sox are looking for 2019 Lucas Giolito, when in reality, Giolito is a #4 starter at best. He's no longer a top-three rotation pitcher anymore. He's not a No. 2 starter, like the way they're using him.
Giolito has a $14 million club option for 2026, and the Red Sox may use this opportunity to buy him out. If the Red Sox are wise about it, maybe they buy him out and just re-sign him to a smaller deal so they can still put him in the back of the rotation when needed. There's nothing wrong with Giolito; it's just that he's not what he once was anymore.
He's always given up runs in his career, especially in 2018, or arguably best last season in 2023. He gave up 218 runs. Being a run producer as a pitcher raises red flags, especially in this modern game where hitters are trained to kill everything that doesn't break in the strike zone. It's hard for pitchers like Giolito. He always emphasized finesse, deceiving hitters with his stuff. But now, that time has passed, and it's a request for speed and power in this new age.
Giolito was built to be like a modern-day Zack Greinke, but his stuff isn't nearly as good as it was anymore. He can still pitch well, but he's not consistent anymore, and I don't think he ever will be again, and it might not take long for the Red Sox to come to that realization, too.