Two Veteran Red Sox Pitchers ‘Turning Back Clock’ With Bounce-Back Seasons

The Boston Red Sox have relied on two resurgent pitchers throughout the 2025 season.

MLB’s Jared Greenspan highlighted six veterans “turning back the clock” with big years during a playoff push. He chose two Red Sox hurlers, recognizing bounce-back campaigns from closer Aroldis Chapman and starter Lucas Giolito.

Greenspan may have jinxed Chapman, who allowed his first hit and run since July 23 on Wednesday. The 37-year-old’s ERA skyrocketed all the way to 1.14, and his 0.67 WHIP remains less than half of last season’s 1.35.

Greenspan noted that the “utterly dominant” Chapman has the lowest opposing batting average (.121) of any qualified pitcher and his lowest expected ERA (1.89) since Statcast began calculating the stat in 2015.

The last time Chapman recorded an ERA below 2.00, he helped the Chicago Cubs snap a 108-year title drought.

“Chapman’s 2.4 fWAR is his highest single-season fWAR since 2016, when he ignited the Cubs during their World Series run,” Greenspan wrote. “Perhaps a similar tale is unfolding in Boston, with the left-hander a near-flawless anchor at the back end of the Red Sox bullpen.”

Giolito hasn’t enjoyed the same dominance, but Greenspan called the right-hander an “indispensable” piece of Boston’s rotation. The 31-year-old has returned from a torn UCL to record a 3.38 ERA in 23 starts.

“He’s plenty deserving of a potential playoff start as the Red Sox close in on a Wild Card berth,” Greenspan opined.

Giolito will get another opportunity to excel in a huge spot when he takes the Fenway Park mound against the New York Yankees on Friday night. Chapman could be waiting in hopes of closing out a Red Sox victory and starting another hitless streak.