Garrett Crochet, the guy who was the AL Cy Young runner-up last year, is looking at a possible return late in the 2026 season, but he’ll only be throwing up to two innings in live game action. Yeah, that’s right, two innings. It’s a wild shift from him opening the 2025 postseason as a starter, but the Red Sox are still feeling super comfortable about their playoff rotation outlook.
The Cy Young Runner-Up on a Short Leash
Crochet is still ramping up from left shoulder inflammation, and while a late 2026 return is the best-case scenario, getting the ball for more than a couple of innings isn’t happening. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported Crochet’s own words this week, confirming the two-inning limit. This definitely takes him out of the rotation equation for the rest of the way, but for Boston, it’s far from a loss. Any innings from a competitor like Crochet in October? That’s welcomed big time. The Red Sox already have Sonny Gray slated for Game 1, Ranger Suarez for Game 2, and Payton Tolle for Game 3 of their playoff rotation. That’s a solid group, and Crochet just makes it stronger.
Weaponizing a Bullpen Beast
Think about it: Crochet’s stuff is gonna play up in shorter intervals, and he’s already proved he can absolutely dominate in that kind of role. Remember his 2021 bullpen campaign with the White Sox? He put up a fantastic 2.82 ERA and a ridiculous 10.8 K/9 when Chicago won the AL Central. Plus, he didn’t allow a single run in four total postseason outings back in 2020 and 2021. He wasn’t even a full-time starter until the 2024 season! This dude knows how to shut things down. He’ll become a pretty vital part of this Red Sox bullpen, joining Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock in high-leverage spots. Justin Slaten and Tyron Guerrero will be getting big outs too, and Brayan Bello could be a crucial long reliever if he’s not in the rotation for later series. Crochet’s role is going to be interesting, whether he’s saving late-inning jams or bridging the middle innings to get to those back-end horses. His realistic ability to contribute in 2026 is seriously intriguing, even if it’s not the David Price 2017 bullpen run. Arms are arms when wins are on the line in October, and the Red Sox could have the best in the American League ready to roll.
So yeah, two innings might not sound like much for a former Cy Young runner-up, but if Crochet brings that 2021 bullpen fire, the Red Sox are adding a legitimate weapon to an already stacked pitching staff. Get ready to see some serious heat out of that Boston pen when it matters most.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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