How Worried Should the 2026 Red Sox Be About Their Two-Time All-Star Ace?
Garrett Crochet, once thought to be a rare player the 2026 Red Sox did not have to worry about, is raising eyebrows after his second consecutive concerning start. The pitcher, who led MLB in strikeouts in 2025, allowed five runs in five innings on Sunday as the Sox fell to the Tigers. This comes on the heels of perhaps the worst start of his career, in which he gave up ten runs in just two innings during an April 13th loss to the Twins. Crochet looked unflappable last season, winning 18 games and boasting a 2.59 ERA. This season, however, disappointing numbers and questionable mechanics have people wondering if something significant is wrong with the man previously known as ‘War Pig’.
The first four innings of Sunday’s game were actually looking up for Crochet, but two quick home runs in the fifth, a three-run blast and a solo shot, spelled doom for the 26-year-old lefty. He struggled with control, a concern for a player previously regarded as a top-five arm in the league. Thankfully, his velocity was up compared to the nightmare innings in Minnesota. The two-time all-star’s four-seamer averaged just 94.9 mph that day, but against the Tigers, he delivered a more expected 95.8. His season ERA now sits at 7.88, an abysmal number that may be difficult to claw back from. If this all wasn’t odd enough, the lackluster stats only tell a part of the story.
The reliability of the “eye test” is often litigated in sports, especially baseball. That being said, the differences between Crochet’s throwing mechanics last year and this year are quite noticeable. The big, straight-leg kick that was the calling card of his windup in 2025 has shortened, and the leg is often bent. His arm angle is also down, with a slightly lower release point on some of his pitches. This all could amount to nothing, but coupled with the numbers, it might point to larger issues. Is the two-time all-star ace hurt or suffering from intense fatigue? He did work heavily last season; his 205 innings marked a career high by almost 60. Perhaps Crochet is just in his own head, a common issue for the game that inexplicably hurts all kinds of athletes. Either way, the Beantown weapon is seriously different in 2026.
One of the most disappointing aspects of the inadequate performances is that Crochet’s talent is not missing altogether. Despite the struggles, he struck out eight Detroit batters, flashing the brilliance on the mound that Boston has come to love. The two-time all-star can blow fastballs by guys or hurl sweepers that leave hitters weak in the knees. He’s still in there, but something is clearly wrong, though it’s hard to tell what. If the nine-time World Series Champions have any hope of turning their already slow start to the season around, a big piece of that could come with turning flashes of brilliance into consistent excellence.
