A deeper look into two surprising arms in the Red Sox bullpen

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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 19: Matt Strahm #55 of the Boston Red Sox delivers during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 19, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

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."

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