BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora admitted to being concerned about the Red Sox’ starting pitching depth last Saturday, five days before the trade deadline.
“Obviously we’re one pitch away from somebody (else) getting hurt,” Cora said back then. “That’s the nature of the business. So obviously the more we have the better. Compared to where we were in spring training, we’re a lot shorter than that group.”
The Red Sox added only one starting pitcher at the deadline, acquiring 27-year-old righty Dustin May from the Dodgers for outfield prospects James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard.
How does Cora feel about the depth now?
“I feel good,” Cora said. “Obviously, Fitzy (Richard Fitts) is down there, (Kyle) Harrison is down there (at Worcester). There’s other guys that may or may not contribute, but we’re better than a week ago in that aspect.”
Fitts, Harrison and Cooper Criswell (who’s making a spot start Friday) are the three top depth options at Triple-A Worcester.
Worcester manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday that he’s seen “flashes” from Harrison, the 23-year-old lefty who the Red Sox acquired in the Rafael Devers trade.
Tracy said it’s “hard to say” how close Harrison (4.78 ERA in six starts at Worcester) is to being able to contribute in Boston. He was sharp July 22 at St. Paul, allowing just one earned run, three hits and one walk while striking out five in 6 innings. He then lasted just 3 ⅔ innings in his July 27 start (also at St. Paul), giving up two runs, four hits and six walks while striking out four.
“Two starts ago, it was electric,” Tracy said. “It was the best I’ve seen him by far. The Tuesday game in St. Paul. Completely in control of the outing from start to finish. Sixty-two out of 86 pitches for strikes. Everything in the zone. Backdoor slider … throwing the fastball in the zone at the top. Swing and miss. Like, it was awesome. It was like, ‘Wow. That’s a major league starter right there.’ And then on Sunday, stuff still looked good, but just a little bit more erratic. He walked five or six, was underneath the ball a little bit, losing it armside. So the outing wasn’t as crisp.”
May will make his first start for Boston on Wednesday against the Royals. He’ll join a rotation that includes Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello and Walker Buehler.
Crochet (141 ⅓ innings) is just 4 ⅔ innings shy of his career-high (146 in 2024). The Red Sox already are mindful of the ace’s workload, pushing him back to give him a few days extra rest this turn through the rotation. He last pitched Sunday.
May, meanwhile, has thrown a career-high 104 innings, well beyond his previous career-high when he threw 66 ⅓ innings combined between the regular season and postseason in 2020.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said May “feels good” and he said the Red Sox will not have any restrictions on his usage. That said, May has a well-documented history of injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2021 and another elbow surgery in 2023.
“My hope is that with the current rotation and also some of the younger guys who have recently gotten to Triple A or likely to get to get to Triple A here pretty soon, that we’ll also be able to draw from some of our internal depth,” Breslow said.
Boston recently promoted both pitching prospects Connelly Early and David Sandlin to Worcester. Payton Tolle, the No. 1 pitching prospect in the organization, likely isn’t too far behind them at Double-A Portland.
The Red Sox’ starting pitching depth has thinned out quickly.
Kutter Crawford (wrist surgery) and Hunter Dobbins (ACL tear) are out for the rest of the season. Tanner Houck has been on the IL since May 14 with a right flexor pronator strain and it’s doubtful he’ll return.
On whether he still has hope Houck will contribute again in 2025, Cora said, “It’s becoming harder and harder. He’s been out for a while. It’s August 1.”
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