BOSTON — For the Red Sox, the most relevant race that remains in these next couple of weeks is the one lefty Garrett Crochet is waging against the calendar.
The 2026 season has been, for the most part, an injury-plagued loss for Crochet, who made his first six starts before getting shut down with left shoulder inflammation that regressed when he made his first attempted comeback in late May.
But the beauty of all this is that Crochet can wash away the sour taste of missing most of the season by getting back as a reliever in time for the most important games.
After that setback at the end of May, it took Crochet three months just to be cleared to throw off the mound again.
Now that he’s been able to do so three times, and is scheduled for a fourth bullpen session at Fenway Park on Tuesday, there is legitimate hope he can be on the roster when the Red Sox open their postseason on Sept. 29 — likely at Yankee Stadium.
If you remember, Crochet started the ‘25 postseason with a dominant performance in the Bronx (7 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 11 strikeouts) while leading his team to a 3-1 victory in Game 1.
This time, assuming he makes it back, Crochet will be cast in a much different role, but one that can still be impactful.
Figuring you have questions about how and when Crochet fits in, here are some answers.
Can Crochet make it back before the regular season ends?
It’s not impossible. His next key step after graduating from bullpen sessions will be to face hitters. That could happen as soon as this weekend, depending on what the club decides after Tuesday’s session.
Ideally, when it comes to Crochet’s situation, the Triple-A season would go a little longer. But, alas, it ends on Sunday.
It seems more likely Crochet will throw live batting practice and/or some type of simulated game rather than getting into a Minor League game, perhaps doing so multiple times.
Would this leave time for one tune-up before the regular season ends on Sept. 27? Perhaps, but not necessarily.
Would Crochet be thrown right into the fire of the playoffs?
What if there isn’t time for Crochet to pitch in any type of game setting before the Wild Card Series starts? Would the Red Sox still put him on the roster?
Well, if he’s throwing up to his capabilities, the answer is absolutely yes.
“It’s Garrett Crochet,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “If Garrett Crochet looks like Garrett Crochet and he’s healthy and able to go out there and pitch, and it looks like him? Yeah, that helps any team.”
What would Boston’s bullpen cast look like with Crochet in the mix?
In a word, dominant. Through their first 150 games of the season entering Tuesday, Boston’s bullpen has a 3.11 ERA, best in the Majors. That’s without Crochet.
Now, add Crochet and possibly 2024 Tanner Houck, who is on a Minor League rehab assignment in his return from Tommy John surgery, and Tracy’s relief crew could have a succession of pitchers with nasty stuff.
At 38 years old, lefty Aroldis Chapman continues to be a force. He has one of the best eighth-inning setup men in the game in front of him in righty Garrett Whitlock. Tyron Guerrero, the righty with triple-digit heat, is due back in the next couple of days after missing the last couple of weeks with right shoulder inflammation. Power lefty Erik Miller has been tremendous since he was acquired at the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
Brayan Bello, who hasn’t had much success has a starter this season but has been largely stellar in relief, is another weapon. Add Crochet and Houck to those five pitchers and the Sox would have bullpen depth that would be the envy of most teams.
How would the Sox use Crochet?
The beauty of Crochet is that he could work out of a hybrid role, meaning he could be available for whichever part of the game Tracy needs him most.
Keep in mind that Crochet was a relief pitcher not just in college at Tennessee, but also for the White Sox before being converted to a starting role in ‘24. He has experience working in the early, middle and late part of games.
Thinking outside the box, the Sox could even deploy Crochet as an opener if the occasion called for it, given his experience starting games.
“He’d have plenty of comfort opening if you wanted to go that route,” Tracy said. “He pitched out of the ‘pen. So if you need him to come in the middle innings of a game, a two-inning pocket, I’m sure he’d have comfort doing that, too.”