Crochet Banking On Late-Season Return as Red Sox Ace Rehabs Since April

Garrett Crochet's 2024 season has been defined by absence. The Red Sox left-hander has not taken the mound since April, and based on recent comments to the Boston Globe, there's no expectation he'll pitch again during the regular season. Instead, Crochet is targeting a return timed specifically for the playoffs—a significant shift in how the team and player are managing his recovery.

The circumstances have been puzzling. Crochet posted a 6.30 earned run average across his limited appearances earlier in the year before the injury sidelined him. Rather than building on that foundation, the Red Sox have essentially written off the remainder of his regular-season availability. This suggests either a more serious underlying issue than initially disclosed or a conservative approach to ensure he's fully healthy for October baseball.

For Boston's championship window, a healthy Crochet in the postseason could be transformative. A left-handed ace with his stuff is a premium asset in October, when teams need reliable innings and strikeout stuff to navigate shorter series. The gamble, of course, is whether the Red Sox can stay close enough to a playoff position to benefit from his return.

Bettors should track Boston's win-loss record and playoff odds closely. If the Red Sox fall significantly behind in the wild-card race, the strategy of holding Crochet for October becomes moot. Conversely, if they stay competitive, his potential availability could shift perceptions of their postseason chances come August and September. Any updates on his rehab progress or revised timeline should prompt recalibration of both team win totals and pennant odds.

Source: original report ↗