The Boston Red Sox bullpen isn’t getting nearly enough credit for what they’re doing this season. Sure, everyone’s talking about Ranger Suarez dealing and Sonny Gray showing he’s got plenty left in the tank. Connelly Early and Payton Tolle have become the talk of the rotation.
But here’s the thing – the relief corps deserves just as much attention.
The Red Sox have quietly assembled the second-best bullpen in baseball and the best in the American League. When Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman take over late in games, it’s basically lights out.
The numbers back it up. Boston’s bullpen posted a 3.41 ERA last season, which was the second-best in baseball. They also racked up 556 strikeouts with a 1.25 WHIP and 45 saves.
That was supposed to be their ceiling.
Taking It Up Another Level
Instead of regressing, they’ve gotten even better. The bullpen is still ranked second in MLB, but they’ve managed to drop that ERA down to 3.03 this year.
The depth is what makes this unit special. Boston has five relievers with sub-3.00 ERAs, and three guys posting ERAs under 1.10. That’s not normal.
Chapman continues to defy Father Time at 38 years old. He’s sitting on a 0.54 ERA with 22 strikeouts and a 0.840 WHIP through 17 appearances. His 11 saves have been automatic.
Then there’s rookie Tyler Samaniego, who looks like he could be a foundational piece for years to come. The kid’s posted a 1.10 ERA with 13 strikeouts and a 1.163 WHIP across 16 games. Not bad for a first-year guy.
Keeping Hope Alive
Here’s where it gets interesting – this pitching staff might be the only reason Boston’s season isn’t completely over. The Red Sox are sitting at 21-27 and fourth in the AL East, which isn’t where anyone expected them to be.
But they’re not buried yet.
If the bullpen keeps dealing like this, the offense finally wakes up, and the front office makes some smart moves at the deadline, Boston might actually salvage what’s been one of the worst starts in franchise history.
The pitching is there. The question is whether everything else can catch up before it’s too late. From where I’m sitting, that bullpen gives them a fighting chance as long as they’re still in striking distance come July.
