After finishing second to Detroit Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal for the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet has not been the same player: compiling a 3-3 record with a 6.30 ERA in six starts before landing on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation (April 29).

In five starts in April, Crochet had a 2-3 record with a 7.88 ERA, allowed 21 earned runs and four hit batters in 24.0 innings. Crochet is one hit batter away from matching his career high of five set with the Chicago White Sox in 2024.

Almost a month after getting placed on the 15-day injured list, Crochet has made progress to return to the mound, with the 26-year-old set to throw batting practice on Tuesday, according to interim manager Chad Tracy (h/t Associated Press). 

Crochet said before the Red Sox series finale with the Minnesota Twins, who were swept, said he was feeling good and "feeling confident in his throw."

"Feeling good, feeling confident in the throw," he said. "Mechanics are in a good spot. That's kind of the sucky part of all this, is that's all I have to focus on right now."

The Red Sox starting rotation has held its own in Garrett Crochet's absence

Despite Crochet not pitching well in the second year of his six-year contract ($170 million), the Red Sox have received a solid pitching performance from their offseason investment, left-hander Ranger Suarez. Signed to a five-year ($130 million) contract in the offseason and has pitched to a 2-2 record with a 2.40 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in nine starts. 

Since Crochet landed on the injured list, Suarez has stepped up and thrown his name into consideration as an ace of the staff, with a 0.66 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in May. The Red Sox have also seen a great showing from another left-hander on the staff, Payton Tolle. 

Starting the season at Triple-A Worcester, Tolle first came up when right-hander Sonny Gray went on the injured list with a hamstring injury. In six starts since coming up to replace Gray, the 23-year-old is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. 

Left-hander Connelly Early has also done well in Crochet's absence, providing the Red Sox with another quality arm. In 10 starts, the second-year lefty is 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 50 in 54.0 innings. 

The Red Sox could use some starting pitching help at the Aug. 3 trade deadline

Given the health of the rotation, the Red Sox could be a team vying for starting pitching help at the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Red Sox could use another high-quality starting pitcher to go along with Crochet, Suarez, Tolle and Early, as right-hander Brayan Bello has been relegated to pitching behind an opener. 

Bello has found success in his role as the "bulk guy," with one blowup outing in May, allowing seven earned runs to the Atlanta Braves on May 17. Having another quality arm will maintain the Red Sox's competitiveness, as they sit 3.5 games out of the American League Wild Card race.