The Boston Red Sox are slated to play the Chicago White Sox for the finale of a three-game series at Fenway Park at 7:10 p.m. EDT on Thursday.
The Red Sox won the first two games of the series. They won the first game 14-2 and the second 4-0.
Before the finale, Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy announced surprising news on injured left-hander Garrett Crochet.
Boston Red Sox Manager Chad Tracy Reveals Surprising Garrett Crochet News
GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 07: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park on April 07, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images)
The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey wrote on X: “Chad Tracy on maybe using Garrett Crochet as a reliever: “If he’s healthy and right, and he looks like Garrett Crochet, I think we’d be foolish not to consider that.” He said Crochet stretching out to six innings by the end of September is “probably not feasible.””
Crochet has been on the injured list since April 19 with left shoulder inflammation.
GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 19: Starting pitcher Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox throws in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)
Before landing on the IL, Crochet had a poor 6.30 ERA in 30 innings across six starts.
For a starter who posted a 2.59 ERA the year before, Crochet’s start to the season was very uncharacteristically bad. It’s likely his shoulder injury is a major reason for his struggles earlier in the year.
Looking at Boston Red Sox LHP Garrett Crochet
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 30: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees during the second inning of game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox selected Crochet with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft out of Tennessee.
Crochet made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2020, throwing six innings across five appearances out of the bullpen.
The White Sox kept Crochet in a relief role from 2021-23. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2022, which kept him out for all of the 2022 season and most of 2023.
GettyBOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 14: Pitcher Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pumps his fist as he smiles while leaving the mound after striking out José Caballero #72 of the New York Yankees to end the third inning at Fenway Park on September 14, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Crochet had a 2.82 ERA in 54 1/3 innings in 2021 and a 3.55 ERA in 12 2/3 innings in 2023. The White Sox converted Crochet to a starter in 2024, and he immediately impressed in his new role, recording a 3.58 ERA with 209 strikeouts in 146 innings across 32 starts.
On Dec. 11, 2024, the White Sox traded Crochet to the Red Sox for catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, third baseman Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.
In his first season with Boston, Crochet posted a 2.59 ERA with 255 strikeouts in 205 1/3 innings across 32 starts en route to being named the American League Cy Young runner-up.
Boston Red Sox Announce Surprising Garrett Crochet News During White Sox Series