This is not how Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora drew it up when they first thought about how the 2024 Red Sox starting rotation would look.
If we go back to late last season, Cora had already tabbed Chris Sale as the 2024 Opening Day starter in Seattle. But, of course, the Red Sox moved Sale and his contract to Atlanta earlier this year. Breslow, meanwhile, made his first big splash as Boston’s executive with the signing of free-agent starter Lucas Giolito. The veteran Giolito failed to even make to Opening Day, however, as he suffered an elbow injury early into spring training that’ll sideline him for all of 2024.
But with Opening Day around the corner, the Red Sox have officially scrambled their way into a complete rotation to begin 2024, as confirmed by Cora in a Friday media session down in Florida.
Brayan Bello
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 20: Brayan Bello #66 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on September 20, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The least shocking development of the year is that Brayan Bello will be Boston’s Opening Day starter.
The 24-year-old Bello, who recently signed a six-year extension worth $55 million, has the highest ceiling out of any Red Sox arm, and is coming off a 2023 campaign that included 12 wins and a 4.24 ERA in 28 starts. In addition to the 12 victories, Bello recorded 132 strikeouts over that 157-inning sample, and held batters to a .270 average.
Bello will also be the youngest Opening Day starter for Boston since Aaron Sele in 1995.
Nick Pivetta
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 09: Nick Pivetta #37 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 9, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Utilized by the Red Sox in every which way a season ago, Nick Pivetta will be Boston’s No. 2 pitcher this season.
Pivetta is coming off a 2023 campaign that included a 10-9 record, career-best 4.04 ERA and .208 batting average against, and a team-leading 183 strikeouts over 142.2 innings of work. The Canadian-born Pivetta was downright electric in June and July last season, and gave Cora a much-needed do-it-all weapon for a pitching staff full of question marks.
Kutter Crawford
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kutter Crawford #50 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2023 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
In the No. 3 spot, the Red Sox will turn to Kutter Crawford.
On the hill for 31 games last season, the righty-throwing Crawford established career-highs in wins (six), starts (23), innings (129.1), strikeouts (135), ERA (4.04), and batting average against (.221) for the club last season. What was most interesting about Crawford’s 2023 season is that he was phenomenal on the road (6-3 with a 2.49 ERA) but absolutely dreadful at home, with an 0-5 record and 6.00 ERA in 15 games (11 starts) at Fenway.
Garrett Whitlock
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 20: Garrett Whitlock #72 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
After ending his 2023 season back in a bullpen role (where he’s truly thrived since joining the club), Garrett Whitlock will move back to Boston’s rotation, where he’s expected to be the club’s No. 4 pitcher in the rotation.
That role has been rather hit-or-miss for Whitlock, all things considered.
In 19 career games as a starter, Whitlock has posted a 5-4 record and 4.76 ERA, along with a 1.29 WHIP and 15 homers allowed, in 90.2 innings of work. But in the bullpen, Whitlock has been dynamite, with a 2.65 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 132.2 innings. There’s also been questions as to whether or not Whitlock has the arm strength needed to ‘last’ as a starter over the course of a full, 162-game season.
Tanner Houck
Tanner Houck of the Red Sox pitches against the Yankees at Fenway Park on June 16, 2023. (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Another player who’s been in and out of the rotation and bullpen, the right-handed Tanner Houck will round out the Boston rotation as Cora’s fifth starter. The 6-foot-5 Houck, who has been a starter in three of his four years with the Red Sox, is coming off a 2023 season that included a 6-10 record and 5.01 ERA over 21 starts.
