The Boston Red Sox posted their best offensive showing in ages during their Sept. 22 doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins.
But even if their hot offensive streak continues and they win out for the last six games of the season, they don't control their own destiny in the Wild Card chase — Boston would have to rely on teams ahead of it to lose for it to sneak into the postseason. The odds are not in the Sox's favor.
Because the Red Sox's chance to make the postseason is so slim, they could call up some of their top prospects for a cup of coffee in the big leagues. Trade deadline acquisition Quinn Priester could be a prime candidate for his Red Sox debut.
The 2019 first-round pick took some time to adjust to his move to the Red Sox organization at the trade deadline. He posted an 8.10 ERA over his first five starts with Triple-A Worcester, but he's since acclimated well to his new club.
The Red Sox should call up Quinn Priester for a few big-league starts down the stretch
Seven strikeouts for Quinn Priester last night. 👊 pic.twitter.com/SltL8yzY0u
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) September 22, 2024
Priester logged a 2.45 ERA over 18.1 innings across four starts in September. His Sept. 4 start against Triple-A Rochester was the best appearance of his short Red Sox tenure by far — he clocked six, four-hit, scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Priester threw strikes at a higher clip in September than he did in August. He clocked 24 strikeouts in his four September starts, the most for any month of his season. He collected 18 strikeouts in August and 19 in April, but he unlocked something different in the final month of the season.
Young Red Sox pitchers have already had great success in the big leagues in September. Richard Fitts has a 0.00 ERA over three starts and Luis Guerrero has also posted a 0.00 ERA with seven strikeouts in five relief appearances.
Priester already has big-league experience under his belt, and the Red Sox don't have much to lose. They could rest their exhausted rotation and give a potential future starter an early opportunity to show his stuff.