Where Garrett Crochet Stands In MLB Network’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Garrett Crochet has cemented himself among MLB’s premier aces this season.

A year after moving from the bullpen, Crochet has recorded a 2.19 ERA with an MLB-leading 135 1/3 innings pitched and 165 strikeouts for the Boston Red Sox. The 26-year-old remains in the thick of a stacked American League Cy Young Award race alongside 2024 winner Tarik Skubal.

Crochet has emerged as one of the game’s top-flight starters, but MLB Network wouldn’t hand him the top spot just yet.

MLB Network unveiled its midseason top-10 starting pitching rankings on Tuesday’s “MLB Now.” Crochet, who didn’t make the preseason list, jumped to No. 5 behind Skubal, Zack Wheeler, Paul Skenes and former Red Sox star Chris Sale.

Two analysts felt “The Shredder” slighted Crochet. Former Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy and New York Post columnist Joel Sherman each ranked him third.

“There’s something to deceptive left-handed starters that give teams fits,” Peavy said in his explanation for placing Crochet ahead of Skenes. “Crochet fits that mold for me.”

Sherman conversely had Skubal and Skenes above Crochet. The reporter noted that Crochet leads the field with nine “super quality starts” of two earned runs or fewer allowed in at least seven innings.

Boston’s offseason acquisition has provided far more volume than anticipated after throwing a career-high 146 innings last season.

“The question about Crochet coming into the season was about durability, right? How he was used last year, etc. This guy’s a bulldog,” Sherman declared.

Sherman also cited Crochet’s 2.56 ERA against top-10 offenses. He’ll face another elite lineup when starting Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lead the majors in scoring.