Alex Cora Reveals Workload Plan For Red Sox Ace

Garrett Crochet pitched for the first time in 10 days on Tuesday. He threw 105 pitches and allowed two runs over seven innings. His velocity held up throughout the outing, and his offspeed pitches worked to put hitters away.

The Boston Red Sox acquired Crochet this offseason from the Chicago White Sox. Last season, the White Sox limited Crochet’s innings in the second half of the season to protect his arm.

The Red Sox then traded for the lefty and quickly signed him to a six-year, $170 million contract. They’ve also monitored his workload, but not to the extent of the White Sox. They’ve pushed back a start and limited him to 85 pitches in another. More recently, they skipped a start in an effort to keep Crochet fresh down the stretch.

After the game, Alex Cora detailed the plan for Crochet going forward.

“I think this is the last time we’re going to skip a start,” Cora said. “From now on, we’ll use the off days to our advantage, but I don’t think we have to do it now… I think for everybody now, we’re good. Shake hands, and this is what we’re gonna do. We’ll just let him go.”

With the Red Sox in the thick of a playoff chase, they can’t afford to skip another start. He put an exclamation point on his Tuesday outing as he struck out Luke Maile to end the seventh inning and showed why he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Crochet won’t be rested the rest of the way, and he prefers it that way.

“Normally, extended rest makes me feel a little bit rusty,” Crochet said.