Rating the Red Sox pitchers: How they performed this year and what’s next

Brayan Bello: He started the season on the injured list with elbow inflammation, but still managed to start 30 games. Bello was a wreck early in the season, posting a 5.32 ERA and hitting 14 home runs in 17 starts. However, the 25-year-old right-hander found some ground in the second half, posting a 3.47 ERA in 13 starts.

Bello is prone to walks and deep counts, but his skills usually help him get out of trouble. His emotions led to some bad starts at times.

Richard Fitts: The right-hander doesn’t do much swing-and-miss, but he was effective in his first four big league appearances, posting a 1.74 ERA. Fitts has two options and should be able to provide some depth.

Cutter Crawford: The right-hander’s goal after spring training was to log more than 150 innings and make 30 starts. He accomplished both, throwing 183⅔ innings in 33 starts. He did allow an American League-leading 34 home runs, but the Sox are big believers in his batting throws and whatnot.

Tanner Houck: He rose from fringe starter to All-Star, posting a 3.12 ERA in 30 starts. The right-hander fits Andrew Bailey’s spin-focused mold and made it a point to hit more shots. He has virtually eliminated the four-seam fastball from his arsenal, relying primarily on his sinker/slider mix while also incorporating his splitter.

There isn’t much swing-and-miss in his game, but he does an excellent job of keeping hitters on the ground and inducing weak contact.

Quinn Priest: The Sox made some tweaks that resulted in him recording a nearly 2 mph increase on his sinker after acquiring it at the deadline. Pitch throwing will be crucial to the development of the right-handed hitter.

Garrett Whitlock: Internal support to his elbow limited him to just four starts. He has some of the best power on the team, which is why the Red Sox remain hopeful that he can remain a starter. But the risk may not be worth it as injuries continue to mount.

Lucas Giolito: The right-hander may have been the missing piece as he also underwent an internal brace that cost him the entire season. Since 2018, and excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Giolito has only had one year where he didn’t make 30 starts – 2019, when he made 29 and earned an All-Star nomination.

He will be fully capable by spring training and could help the rotation jump forward.

Cooper Criswell: He can be used both as a starter and as a substitute. When it’s his turn, he’s a tough opponent with his east-west attack plan.

Nick Pivetta: He’s a free agent and will likely attract a decent amount of attention given his skill set. Pivetta has made 104 starts since the start of the 2021 season, 35 more than any other Red Sox pitcher. However, he has always been plagued by inconsistencies.

James Paxton: He is retired.

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Brennan Bernardino: After posting a 1.69 ERA in the first half of the season, things went downhill for the left-handed hitter, posting an 8.05 ERA in the second half of the season. His lack of speed became a problem, especially as the season progressed and the Sox began to rely more heavily on him.

Cam Booser: He was part of the Red Sox’s search for left-handed speed, which he actually showcased.

Isaiah Campbelll: The right-hander’s ability to shut out lefties was intriguing to the Red Sox when they acquired him from the Mariners last offseason. But shoulder and elbow injuries derailed his season.

Luis Guerrero: He managed an .800 WHIP without allowing an earned run in his 10 innings. He delivers a high-power fastball in the upper 90s that has been missing from this bullpen.

Liam Hendriks: He missed the entire season following Tommy John surgery in August 2023.

Bailey Horn: The Sox’ endless search for a hard-hitting left-handed hitter ended with Horn, who was designated for assignment by the White Sox earlier this year.

Zack Kelly: His stuff is elite, but it gets hit, partly due to deep counts. Kelly ended his year in Worcester hoping to regain control.

Chris Martin: A hitter who is also a free agent. Martin pitched well during his two-year tenure with the Red Sox, walking just 11 batters in 95⅔ innings. However, he has struggled with some injuries and anxiety this season, which has led to some issues. Still, he managed a 3.45 ERA and a 1.128 WHIP in 44⅓ innings.

Bryan Mata: Will he ever be healthy? Will he ever stay in the strike zone? Those are still big question marks for Mata, who spent all of 2024 on the injured list.

Chris Murphy: He lost all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Zach Penrod: A left-handed hitter who must learn to master the baseball if he wants to succeed.

Chase Shugart: In six games, he managed a 4.15 ERA in 8⅔ innings.

Justin Slaten: He was a strong arm out of the bullpen with an upper 90s fastball that proved effective. The Red Sox have dismissed the idea of ​​Slaten becoming their closer.

Greg Weissert: After posting a 4.39 ERA in the first half of the season, he improved to 0.81 in his final 22 appearances. He was optioned twice during the season, but the Sox still believe in him as a powerful reliever.

Josh Winckowski: He lacked swing-and-miss, but by the end of the season he began using his four-seater more often.

Kenley Jansen: Latissimus ended its season at the end of September. Before that, the finish was solid, posting a WHIP of 1.061 and an ERA of 3.29.

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Julian McWilliams can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @byJulianMack.