The Boston Red Sox have faltered since the All-Star break — they've fallen to 3.5 games back of the third American League wild card spot, mostly due to league-worst pitching since play resumed.
The Red Sox have posted a 5.79 team ERA in the last month, and while the starters have had their struggles, most of the issues have come from the bullpen. Boston has blown a league-worst 12 saves since the break, and the late-inning difficulties have cost them in the standings.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow sought relievers to bolster his staff at the deadline, and he traded for former Cincinnati Red Lucas Sims and Los Angeles Angel Luis García. The two hurlers were trending in the right direction with their former clubs, but haven't brought the level of support Boston's bullpen desperately needed.
García has struggled more than Sims in his short tenure as a Red Sox. He's let up 12 runs in his nine appearances and posted an 11.17 ERA in that span. He's been presented with one save opportunity, but couldn't convert.
Lucas Sims and Luis García haven't had the positive impact the Red Sox hoped for
The Red Sox now have 12 blown saves since the All-Star break. No other team has more than 8.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) August 20, 2024
Sims has made nine appearances for the Red Sox, six of them scoreless. He's posted a 6.23 ERA with Boston, mostly due to a four-run outing against the Astros, one of the Sox's biggest opponents in the wild card race.
Not only have Boston's bullpen trade deadline additions not panned out as it hoped, but James Paxton is likely out for the rest of the season with a partially torn calf. Fortunately, Cooper Criswell performed well in his stead, but the Red Sox's trade deadline moves look worse by the day.
García posted two straight scoreless outings against the Astros, his first clean sheets since Aug. 2. Hopefully, the outing marks a transition for the Red Sox's stumbling trade deadline additions. If the Sox hope to make it to the postseason, their late-inning arms must get back on track.