Red Sox 2025 Starting Rotation

[mvp 78]

Had a few thoughts about the starting rotation and didn't want to add it to the Realistic View megathread.

1. After a few down starts to open the season, Houck and Buehler looked much better that last time out. I don't really expect Houck to be ace-like this year, but if he can be a solid upper tier mid rotation guy, he can be very valuable. FanGraphs has a blog up about Buehler's last start and it's a really great read. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/walker-buehlers-day-on/

2. With Fitts going down and Bello/Gio still being a start away from a call up, are we really comfortable with a Michael Fulmer start? We were concerned about having too many arms for the rotation, but it's the mid of April and Fulmer is already in line for a spot start!

3. Newcomb to the pen once Gio and Bello get called up? They probably will need a long reliever as Whitlock can't be used in back to back days or really even every other day. 

4. This Crochet guy seems pretty good! 

[vegasbob]

Yes, it looked like we actually had a real staff and competition for slots.    Bello and Giolito should be back but be prepared for about 3  "training wheel" starts before getting what the Sox are paying for.  

Newcomb should be ( and Fulmer too)  only long relief or part of a BP game.  Sean has no "out" pitch.  

The loss of Fitts and his work to then comeback is a problem because he performed like a  starting pitcher . I bet he misses 6 weeks before back on the mound.   

Rotation should be Crochet,  Buehler, Houck,  Bello, Giolito.     Can't wait for the week when that actually happens.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Rotation should be Crochet,  Buehler, Houck,  Bello, Giolito.     Can't wait for the week when that actually happens.

We may get that after this turn through the rotation if Bello is ready to go on Patriots Day.

[moonslav59]

I think the rotation will be fine, and if Bello can improve on his last 2 years, we should be okay.

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think the rotation will be fine, and if Bello can improve on his last 2 years, we should be okay.

2024 Post ASB Bello: 13 GS, 3.47 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 629 OPS, 8.5 k/9, 2.2 k/bb, 1.23 WHIP

He can do it. He has it in him.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

2024 Post ASB Bello: 13 GS, 3.47 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 629 OPS, 8.5 k/9, 2.2 k/bb, 1.23 WHIP

He can do it. He has it in him.

I'm expecting him to do well.

[Kimmi]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

2024 Post ASB Bello: 13 GS, 3.47 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 629 OPS, 8.5 k/9, 2.2 k/bb, 1.23 WHIP

He can do it. He has it in him.

Bello has been better than a lot of people give him credit for.  I think that not having the pressure of being the ace of the staff will help.  I'd like to see him be able to consistently go deeper into games.

With regards to Crochet, I've said it before and I'll say it again, how refreshing!

[moonslav59]

50 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Bello has been better than a lot of people give him credit for.  I think that not having the pressure of being the ace of the staff will help.  I'd like to see him be able to consistently go deeper into games.

With regards to Crochet, I've said it before and I'll say it again, how refreshing!

I'm thrilled at how quickly Brez & Co moved the focus to pitching, built up the rotation, rotation depth and even made a dent on the farm system acquisition and (hopeful) development.

I know guys like Gio, Fitts, Criswell, Dobbins and eventually Sandoval may not thrill many posters, but the depth list is about the best I've ever seen on a Sox team. (I'm sure someone will remind me of the team back in 19__...

Crochet, Houck and Buehler should be fine.

Bello & Crawford are decent 4-5's.

On the farm, we still lack many highly ranked pitchers. Perales is ranked #4 on soxprospects, but look hos many are poised to make a move up...

7. Valera

8. Sandlin

10. Early, 11. Fitts, 12. Dobbins

13. Tolle, 16. Paez, 19. Clarke

22. Reyes, 23, Cason, 25. Wehunt

28. Monegro, 29. Mullins, 30. Delzine

Tygart, Ingrassia, Aita, Fajardo

Then, there are Guerrero, Penrod, Mta, Drohan and Dean

Most of these guys may never see the bigs or even reach AAA, but the quantity is high and the quality seems to be improving.

The Delzine IFA signing looks nice.

We spent more on signing bonuses for pitchers in the last draft than I don't know when. 12 of the top 16 picks were pitchers.  When has that happened before? (2 of top 3 and 4 of top 6, too.)

Besides the FA signings, Brez has added  these pitchers via trade and Rule 5: Fitts, (Priester has since been traded for an OF'er) Slaten, Sandlin,  Weissert, Fajardo and Judice .

At least on paper, things look better.

[Kimmi]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm thrilled at how quickly Brez & Co moved the focus to pitching, built up the rotation, rotation depth and even made a dent on the farm system acquisition and (hopeful) development.

I know guys like Gio, Fitts, Criswell, Dobbins and eventually Sandoval may not thrill many posters, but the depth list is about the best I've ever seen on a Sox team. (I'm sure someone will remind me of the team back in 19__...

Crochet, Houck and Buehler should be fine.

Bello & Crawford are decent 4-5's.

On the farm, we still lack many highly ranked pitchers. Perales is ranked #4 on soxprospects, but look hos many are poised to make a move up...

7. Valera

8. Sandlin

10. Early, 11. Fitts, 12. Dobbins

13. Tolle, 16. Paez, 19. Clarke

22. Reyes, 23, Cason, 25. Wehunt

28. Monegro, 29. Mullins, 30. Delzine

Tygart, Ingrassia, Aita, Fajardo

Then, there are Guerrero, Penrod, Mta, Drohan and Dean

Most of these guys may never see the bigs or even reach AAA, but the quantity is high and the quality seems to be improving.

The Delzine IFA signing looks nice.

We spent more on signing bonuses for pitchers in the last draft than I don't know when. 12 of the top 16 picks were pitchers.  When has that happened before? (2 of top 3 and 4 of top 6, too.)

Besides the FA signings, Brez has added  these pitchers via trade and Rule 5: Fitts, (Priester has since been traded for an OF'er) Slaten, Sandlin,  Weissert, Fajardo and Judice .

At least on paper, things look better.

I am very pleased with the work that Breslow has done.  Guys like Gio, Fitts, Criswell, and others are my kind of pick ups.

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

I am very pleased with the work that Breslow has done.  Guys like Gio, Fitts, Criswell, and others are my kind of pick ups.

I like Slaten, too, although he's off to a rough start.

[mvp 78]

I don't know what PeteAbe wants Tanner to throw. His horrible 4 seamer (opponents 1.000 SLG, 625 wOBA)? His splitter is really thrown mainly against lefties. Change his sweeper back to a slider with less horizontal break? 

[Nick]

On 4/14/2025 at 11:10 AM, mvp 78 said:

Had a few thoughts about the starting rotation and didn't want to add it to the Realistic View megathread.

1. After a few down starts to open the season, Houck and Buehler looked much better that last time out. I don't really expect Houck to be ace-like this year, but if he can be a solid upper tier mid rotation guy, he can be very valuable. FanGraphs has a blog up about Buehler's last start and it's a really great read. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/walker-buehlers-day-on/

2. With Fitts going down and Bello/Gio still being a start away from a call up, are we really comfortable with a Michael Fulmer start? We were concerned about having too many arms for the rotation, but it's the mid of April and Fulmer is already in line for a spot start!

3. Newcomb to the pen once Gio and Bello get called up? They probably will need a long reliever as Whitlock can't be used in back to back days or really even every other day. 

4. This Crochet guy seems pretty good! 

Thanks for starting this thread. It needs a separate thread.

[Nick]

On 4/14/2025 at 11:10 AM, mvp 78 said:

Had a few thoughts about the starting rotation and didn't want to add it to the Realistic View megathread.

1. After a few down starts to open the season, Houck and Buehler looked much better that last time out. I don't really expect Houck to be ace-like this year, but if he can be a solid upper tier mid rotation guy, he can be very valuable. FanGraphs has a blog up about Buehler's last start and it's a really great read. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/walker-buehlers-day-on/

2. With Fitts going down and Bello/Gio still being a start away from a call up, are we really comfortable with a Michael Fulmer start? We were concerned about having too many arms for the rotation, but it's the mid of April and Fulmer is already in line for a spot start!

3. Newcomb to the pen once Gio and Bello get called up? They probably will need a long reliever as Whitlock can't be used in back to back days or really even every other day. 

4. This Crochet guy seems pretty good! 

Does that give us 4 lefties?

[Nick]

18 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I am very pleased with the work that Breslow has done.  Guys like Gio, Fitts, Criswell, and others are my kind of pick ups.

I think as a group, our pitching has improved. It's just frustrating to see so many guys hurt.

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, Nick said:

Does that give us 4 lefties?

It's a lot of pen lefties, but for a long reliever it doesn't matter to me. 

[mvp 78]

Gio is starting tonight vs the Yard Goats FWIW

[Nick]

Kutter. What went wrong? I just dont understand it. When and how did he get hurt?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

39 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I don't know what PeteAbe wants Tanner to throw. His horrible 4 seamer (opponents 1.000 SLG, 625 wOBA)? His splitter is really thrown mainly against lefties. Change his sweeper back to a slider with less horizontal break? 

When Houck first came up nasty, there were TV split screens showing how he was a righty Chris Sale. 

It was because of the slider,

[mvp 78]

3 minutes ago, Nick said:

Kutter. What went wrong? I just dont understand it. When and how did he get hurt?

Hurt his knee early last season and pitched through it. It didn't get better in the offseason. They are rehabbing now. 

Crawford injured himself covering first base at Fenway Park on April 10 against the Orioles.

“My third start of the season, I covered first base and as soon as I hit the base, something happened,” Crawford said. “I just couldn't put a whole lot of weight on it. As you could tell, my velo was declining a little bit.”

Crawford was confident a full winter of rest and rehab would cure what ailed him, but he had a setback in the offseason.

“Yeah, it's something that I kind of dealt with last year, I just kind of flew through it,” said Crawford. “I did something [to it] this offseason. I had a couple hiccups within the rehab progression of it all. I’m just a little behind. The strength just isn't there where we want it to be. And, yeah, just a little behind, kind of taking it day by day.”

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

When Houck first came up nasty, there were TV split screens showing how he was a righty Chris Sale. 

It was because of the slider,

It ain't no slider anymore.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Gio is starting tonight vs the Yard Goats FWIW

About that...

 

[moonslav59]

Yup, Drohan is pitching.

[mvp 78]

Gio ended up starting anyway and going 2 innings giving up 3 runs, 5 H, 3 BB to AA hitters. 

[moonslav59]

Buehler has looked better the last 2 starts.

11.1 IP

7 Hits

4 BB

10 Ks (Threw 65% strikes)

2.38 ERA/ 3.73 FIP

.523 OPSA

[Nick]

18 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

About that...

 

It will be ugly tonight.

[Kimmi]

On 4/15/2025 at 1:56 PM, Nick said:

I think as a group, our pitching has improved. It's just frustrating to see so many guys hurt.

Just when you think you have pretty good pitching depth, you don't.

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, Kimmi said:

Just when you think you have pretty good pitching depth, you don't.

If we all agree our chosen day 1 all healthy rotation would be Crochet, Houck, Buehler, Bello and Crawford, then here are the results, so far:

1.38 Crochet

5.23 Buehler

9.16 Houck

N/A Bello (IL- rehab)

N/A Crawford (IL)

3.18 Fitts (now onIL)

3.60 Dobbins

4.97 Newcomb

Gio (IL- rehabbing)

Criswell (used in pen)

Sandoval (60 Day IL)

One could argue our depth has outpitched the #2-5 scheduled starters.

[Nick]

Moon, Kelly just got sent down. How would you rank our bullpen arms? This is in order of WHIP (I actually like this and Batting Avg given up)

(options remaining)

Slaten (3)

Bernardino-L (1)

Whitlock (3)

Winckowski (1)

Chapman-L

Weissert (1)

Wilson-L (0)

Hendriks

Looks pretty solid. 

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, Nick said:

Moon, Kelly just got sent down. How would you rank our bullpen arms? This is in order of WHIP (I actually like this and Batting Avg given up)

(options remaining)

Slaten (3)

Bernardino-L (1)

Whitlock (3)

Winckowski (1)

Chapman-L

Weissert (1)

Wilson-L (0)

Hendriks

Looks pretty solid. 

My order (you didn't ask)

Slaten

Whitlock

Chapman

Wilson (overly hated)

Weissert

Bernardino

Winckowski

Hendriks

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Nick said:

Moon, Kelly just got sent down. How would you rank our bullpen arms? This is in order of WHIP (I actually like this and Batting Avg given up)

(options remaining)

Slaten (3)

Bernardino-L (1)

Whitlock (3)

Winckowski (1)

Chapman-L

Weissert (1)

Wilson-L (0)

Hendriks

Looks pretty solid. 

I'd put Chapman 2nd and Weissert ahead of Wink.