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DETROIT, MI – MAY 12: Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox watches their game against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on May 12, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox opened the 2026 season on Thursday afternoon with a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. They did it the way they’re going to have to do it this season, riding their pitching staff.
It started with a strong performance from ace Garrett Crochet. He put to rest any doubt that anyone had after a spring training that was underwhelming. He dominated a Reds lineup that is going to do some damage this season.
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After coming up short in the playoffs last year against the New York Yankees in the American League wild-card series, it was an interesting offseason for Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. He addressed the offense, but more importantly, he made some additions to the starting rotation. According to Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report, they have one of the league’s top staffs.
Boston Red Sox Begin 2026 Season With Top 5 Pitching Staff
Breslow had an interesting pivot after Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs in free agency. He turned to add starting pitching. He signed Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million contract.
Breslow also acquired Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals and Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Oviedo will start the season in the bullpen after prospect Connelly Early beat him out for the final rotation spot. Regardless, Reuter believes Boston has one of the best rotations in MLB.
“The Red Sox have turned a starting rotation that was a question mark last season into a true strength after acquiring Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo in a pair of offseason trades and signing Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million deal. That provides high-end depth behind one of baseball’s elite aces in Garrett Crochet,” wrote Reuter.
It just isn’t the five that are on the roster to begin the season. Cora said that the Red Sox will reassess things after a few times through the rotation. If changes need to be made, Boston has Oviedo in the bullpen and Payton Tolle in Triple-A.
Boston’s bullpen is loaded at the backend, and that was on display against Cincinnati. After Justin Slaten worked the seventh, Garrett Whitlock had the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman the ninth to combine to shut out the Reds.
Boston Red Sox Pitching Will Need To Carry Them in 2026
Just how good is the Red Sox offense going to be? That will determine how much success they have this season from some of their prospects. Roman Anthomy had three hits on Opening Day, while Jarren Duran and Marcelo Mayer each had two. Mayer did that after coming off the bench.
However, the recipe for success will be dependent on how many times the Red Sox can get the ball to Whitlock and Chapman in the eighth and ninth innings.
“Can Aroldis Chapman replicate his elite 2025 season? The bullpen’s success is contingent on him being a lockdown option in the ninth inning, but there’s nothing in his underlying metrics to suggest significant regression is coming,” Reuter wrote.
The American League East is loaded this year, and Boston will go as far as their pitching takes them. Come October, pitching is the difference, and Breslow has put his team in a position to have a top 5 staff in the majors.
Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche
