A deeper look into two surprising arms in the Red Sox bullpen
The Red Sox bullpen is above league average in key categories
The Boston Red Sox bullpen was projected to be in the middle of the pack of all major league teams. Statistically, what they have been able to do to start off the season has shown a slight improvement to that middle of the pack grading.
The Red Sox bullpen has done great in a number of key categories when grading against the league’s top relief pitching corps. They are above average in wins in relief with four, coming into games with runners already on base with 25, an average leverage index of 1.118, and the number of times a pitcher completed more than three outs with 13.
Categories in which they have been league average include converting three save opportunities and seven holds.
The Red Sox bullpen is below average in inherited score percentage and games entered with medium leverage.
All of this is to say that the Red Sox bullpen has done a fairly good job when called upon. They rank second in leverage index which means they are coming into games more than most teams when the pressure is on. The ability to get out of those jams with little damage is what is going to push the Red Sox to more wins throughout the season.
While Garrett Whitlock gets most of this hype, rightfully so the way he has been pitching, there are two other pitchers in this bullpen that could emerge as key contributors. They have shown in a small sample size what they could potentially do all season.
Red Sox lefty showing promise
Matt Strahm has been one of the bright spots in the Red Sox bullpen to start the 2022 season.
The left-hander has pitched a total of 6 innings over a league-leading 6 games, allowing two hits, one run, one walk, six strikeouts, and a miniscule 0.500 WHIP.
Chaim Bloom signed Strahm during the offseason for 1 year, $3 million. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He pitched for the Royals for two seasons before he landed with the San Diego Padres.
Throughout his years with the Royals and Padres, he was being thrown around from the bullpen to starter back to the bullpen. With the Red Sox, he knows his role as a bullpen arm and that seems to have benefited him to start off the year.
Could Strahm be another great find by Bloom just like he did throughout his years leading the Tampa Bay Rays? I certainly think so, especially the way the 30-year-old has started off the season on a strong note.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora seems to have confidence in him to come in and pitch more than just the minimum three batters. The strong start by Strahm in spring training has led to that confidence.
“He pitches inside, he’s very aggressive,” Cora said via Christopher Smith of MassLive, adding Strahm’s stuff plays against both righties and lefties and that’s why he’s comfortable bringing in the lefty with inherited runners.
Red Sox righty shutting down opposing hitters
Another reliever that Red Sox Nation has felt comfortable with when he comes into games is Hansel Robles.
The right-hander has pitched a total of 5 innings over 4 games, allowing one hit, no runs, two walks, five strikeouts, and a 0.600 WHIP.
Last season, Bloom traded to get Robles from the Minnesota Twins. When he came over to the Red Sox, he ended up pitching 25 innings in 27 regular season games, striking out 33 batters while walking 13, and producing a 3.60 ERA.
The 2021 postseason was a different story for Robles. Besides his scoreless frame against the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card game, Robles did not have a great postseason. He had a 10.80 ERA against the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series and ended up getting the loss in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.
The concern from Red Sox fans was legitimate when Bloom decided to ink Robles to a 1-year, $2.25 million deal for the 2022 season. Would he be the Robles of the regular season or the disaster of the postseason?
We have a short sample size to go off of right now, but it is looking like the 31-year-old has found his groove. If he can keep that momentum going, the Red Sox have a good chance to win a ton of games.
Red Sox bullpen needs to keep stepping up
Overall, these two guys have stepped up for the Red Sox so far this season. They will be leaned on heavily in the future to come in and shut down opposing hitters.
As we saw in last night’s 2-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays, the bullpen kept the Red Sox in the game until the offense was able to manufacture a go-ahead run in the 8th inning thanks to a Connor Wong sac fly.
Cora managed last night’s win like a playoff game. He turned to his studs Strahm, Robles, Diekman, and Whitlock to shut the door on the electric Blue Jays offense after Nathan Eovaldi gave the Red Sox a solid 4.2 innings.
“We’re still learning,” Cora said about the bullpen. “It’s not easy. I’ve been saying it all along. There’s certain guys that have to step up. And hopefully (Matt) Barnes can get to where we want him to get and take over.”
It is great to see guys like Strahm and Robles build upon their confidence and keep batters at bay. It is the other arms in the pen that include Matt Barnes, Kutter Crawford, Ryan Brasier, Hirokazu Sawamura, Austin Davis, and Phillips Valdez that need to step up in order for the Red Sox to succeed this year, especially against tough teams like Toronto.
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