Going into a new MLB season this week, the Boston Red Sox have made some big changes from the team that lost their American League Wild Card Series to the New York Yankees last season.
Gone is Alex Bregman in free agency to the Chicago Cubs. Coming in through free agency was left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez from the Philadelphia Phillies. Also coming over through a trade was third baseman Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers; however, one thing that is the same is Garrett Crochet at the top of the rotation.
The left-hander skipped the World Baseball Classic to help care for his infant daughter, as well as due to his workload from last year. Crochet is also getting ready for this third season in Boston. Entering his second season with the Red Sox, expectations are high, and there was one bold prediction for the 2026 campaign for manager Alex Cora’s ace.
Boston Red Sox Pitcher Garrett Crochet Gets Bold Preseason Prediction
Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe handed out 2026 MLB award predictions for the new season. His first was for the American League Cy Young. He predicted that Crochet would unseat two-time winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.
“As good as back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is, Crochet has been gaining ground for two years now,” Abraham wrote.
Last season, Skubal was a runaway winner over Crochet, finishing with 26 first-place votes to Crochet’s four. It wasn’t surprising that the vote went that way. However, one look at his numbers last season shows he is closing the gap on Skubal.
Crochet went 18-5 last season with a 2.59 WAR. He led the AL in innings pitched with 205.1 and he led MLB in strikeouts with 255. If he stays healthy, he could easily come close to matching those numbers, despite a tough spring training at times.
Garrett Crochet Has a Dominating Spring Training
Crochet was roughed up in his final Grapefruit League on Saturday by the Atlanta Braves. He was outdueled by former Boston southpaw Chris Sale. Again, it was a Grapefruit League game. Crochet gave up hits, six earned runs in 5.1 innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
You won’t see that line for Crochet much, if at all, in 2026. He finished with a 7.36 ERA in four starts in Florida this spring. Boston’s top arm isn’t worried ahead of Opening Day against the Cincinnati Reds.
“I felt like today was kind of like the rest of the spring,” said Crochet. “The line looked uglier than how it felt. It feels uglier than what I felt like I deserved. Whatever.
“Last year, good spring, bad first start. This year bad spring. Nothing changes for me.”
Boston is loading up to compete in a very tough AL East. The Toronto Blue Jays return a good core from a World Series team, while the Yankees’ pitching staff will ge healthy as the season goes along. The Baltimore Orioles have gotten better, and the Tampa Bay Rays are still the Tampa Bay Rays.
If Crochet isn’t worried going into the season about his rough spring, then neither should the Red Sox. Would it be surprising if he unseats Skubal to win the Cy Young this summer? No, but his first start against the Reds on Thursday should set the tone for the rest of the season. Crochet unseating Skubal to win the Cy Young is a very bold prediction by Abraham.
Boston Red Sox Ace Gets Surprising Bold Preseason Prediction Before Opening Day