BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox: 3 reasons why Boston will win the AL East in 2022

By Tom Balestracci

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his game winning sacrifice fly with teammates in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his game winning sacrifice fly with teammates in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Red Sox closer Matt Barnes
FORT MYERS, FL – APRIL 2: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox warms up in the bullpen during the eighth inning of a Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 2, 2022 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

The Red Sox bullpen needs to find its identity and be consistent

This area has the potential to be strong, but it will come with some question marks in regards to who takes over as the closer.

Matt Barnes will be given the job by Alex Cora until he loses it. He struggled in the second half of last season and his velocity has been down this spring. His mechanical issues have also been a problem. Will he become his former self when he was selected to the All-Star game in the first half of last season or take the form of his second-half self when he was left off of the American League Championship Series roster? Time will tell.

Jake Diekman and Matt Strahm are potential closing options for Cora to turn to late in games if Barnes doesn’t pan out. Since the Sox did not go out and get a big name closer, all three of these guys will need to step up.

Kutter Crawford was announced to make the Opening Day roster which is a fantastic move. Ryan Brasier, Hansel Robles, and Austin Davis look like they are also on track to start the season out of the pen in Boston. Garrett Whitlock is a lock to make it as well.

He will most likely be stretched out as a middle reliever to provide a bridge gap to win games. Cora will need to do a lot of trial and error to see what works, but this group has the potential to be consistent and strong.

Home/Red Sox News