There were some big April shockers, but absolutely no one (not me certainly) saw such mastery coming from the Red Sox rotation, not after Boston practically sat out the winter.
After a so-so (at best) 2023 season, the Sox signed for the rotation only Lucas Giolito, the previously reliable righty who turned out to require Tommy John surgery (considering his history, yet another surprise). So it’s incredible improvement among the young holdovers that’s doing it.
With Giolito and now Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello on the injured list, and absolutely no expectations beyond its own front office, Boston’s rotation has posted an MLB best (by far) 2.03 ERA while allowing an MLB best no earned runs in 13 of 32 starts. Statistically, it’s the best beginning for any rotation since the 1972 Dodgers (and in the AL, 1968 Indians).
New Red Sox pitching director Andrew Bailey — a teammate of new GM Craig Breslow in both Boston and Oakland, and like Breslow a Connecticut native and ex-MLB reliever — is clearly helping enhance the fortunes of Kutter Crawford (1.56 ERA), Tanner Houck (1.60), the previously almost unknown Cooper Criswell (1.65) and others in one of MLB’s youngest rotations.
Bailey is being rumored as a possible future managing candidate, but he may be too valuable in his current role. (Alex Cora is doing another fantastic job, but he may be next year’s Craig Counsell — a coveted managerial free agent.)
For the record, by phone Breslow had high praise for both guys and said he “wouldn’t put a ceiling” on what Bailey could do.
The key to the stunning success, Breslow said, is they tweaked pitch usage, emphasizing certain pitches and pitch design. Red Sox pitchers throw just 12 percent fastballs, by far the fewest (via MLB Network.)
“What we’re seeing,” Breslow said, “is the optimized version of each of those guys.”
No one saw this coming, certainly not Jordan Montgomery — who preferred not to go to Boston because he wanted to win (and fairly, not anyone thought Boston would).
The Red Sox also were runners-up for Cubs sensation Shota Imanaga, who has an MLB best 0.78 ERA. They’re the best so far, but Imanaga obviously would have made them even better.
