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The Boston Red Sox have been without top starting pitcher Garrett Crochet for almost three weeks now. Boston previously placed their ace on the injured list because of shoulder discomfort following an April 25 start. Crochet initially hit the 15-day IL due to the issue, but the earliest return date has since passed.

Despite being sidelined longer than expected, Crochet has taken a significant step in the right direction. The star was able to throw a 20-pitch side session at Fenway Park on May 13. According to The Boston Globe, the positive outcome of the session means that the Red Sox can now plan the next steps in Crochet’s recovery. He is expected to throw more pitches from the mound this weekend before facing live hitters.

While a recovery plan is starting to take shape, Crochet has claimed that he wants to skip a minor league rehab assignment. Major league pitchers typically make an appearance or two against lower-level hitters as they return from injuries. “As of right now, I don’t intend on taking [a rehab assignment],” Crochet said, as reported by The Boston Globe.

“Those decisions are kind of above me, but I hope I won’t need one. We’re trying to win games, so I’d rather not waste innings on a rehab assignment when I feel like I can contribute.”

Boston Red Sox Unable to Make Decision on Garrett Crochet Just Yet

GettyGarrett Crochet has emerged as a Cy Young candidate since joining the Boston Red Sox.

Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy, however, has refrained from making an official decision on the situation prematurely. Instead, the coach hinted that the final call will depend on several factors. Fellow Boston starter Sonny Gray recently returned from injury without throwing in the minors. Nevertheless, his situation was a bit different because he was only out of action for 15 days.

Since returning to action, Gray has been excellent. The veteran has allowed just one earned run in 11 innings in May. In his most recent outing, Gray shut down the Philadelphia Phillies by striking out six batters in as many innings. The back-to-back solid starts have lowered the starter’s ERA to 3.18 on the campaign.

The Red Sox will hope that Crochet will bounce back similarly. However, the ace will be sidelined for a longer period of time compared to Gray. As a result, he may ultimately need a rehab start if the layoff is prolonged in any way.

Boston Needs to Have a Big Summer to Make the Playoffs

The Boston Red Sox will need Crochet healthy if they want to turn things around this season. The club has gone 7-7 since its ace last pitched. At the moment, Boston is last in the American League East with an 18-24 record. Despite the team’s struggles, Red Sox pitchers have been fairly solid. In fact, their combined 3.88 ERA ranks 12th-best in baseball.

Boston’s offense, however, has only managed to average 3.81 runs per game on the year. This figure is currently the fourth-worst among MLB teams. Once Crochet does return, the Red Sox could have a difficult decision to make regarding Payton Tolle. The highly rated youngster has posted a 2.78 ERA in four starts since late April.