The Boston Red Sox may be feeling like gambling men.
Boston could potentially trot out injured star pitcher Garrett Crochet in the first round of the playoffs, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reported on Monday. Healey notes that Crochet is progressing towards a postseason return … despite likely not appearing in a single game (majors or minors) before then.
“I’ve done crazy things before,” Crochet was quoted as saying of the possibility. “I’m not Joe Schmoe. I’ve done impressive things. I think that that would be a big ask for some people, but I don’t think it’s a crazy ask for me.”
Crochet, 27, has not pitched at all since late April due to shoulder inflammation. He then suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery, including being diagnosed with a separate lat strain in June.
The lefty Crochet does have an impressive resume as a two-time All-Star as well as Major League Baseball’s strikeouts leaders in 2025 (with a whopping 255 of them). He also signed a six-year, $170 million extension with the Red Sox in 2025, meaning that the team has a whole lot of money invested in him.
But there would obviously be immense risk with turning to a rusty Crochet (who has not pitched in a real game for more than four months and couting) in an extremely high-leverage playoff situation. The 80-65 Red Sox will almost certainly be facing the rival New York Yankees in a three-game AL Wild Card series, and it looks like they could be rolling the dice there with Crochet, who has a reputation as a real gamer.