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Pitching has been the Boston Red Sox’s main problem since the MLB All-Star break. Since mid-July, Boston’s team ERA has been the lowest. The Red Sox staff isn’t pretty either for the season. The bullpen has a 4.43 ERA, which ranks sixth worst. The only teams in worse position are the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Colorado Rockies. Those four teams have all had unsuccessful seasons. One internal alternative can kick off a turnaround, especially with Boston looking to its bullpen for any assistance. Robust reliever Chris Martin might be able to turn things around for the Red Sox.
Chris Martin, a reliever, could help the struggling Red Sox Martin’s Late-Sweet Phase Martin’s right elbow irritation put him on the 15-Day Injured List at the start of July. It took him over a month to come back. Martin was activated on August 7. The 38-year-old has been dominating everything since. After making seven appearances, he has pitched six and a half innings while giving up just one run and eight hits. Martin has walked a very impressive amount. He has gone 23 games without walking an opponent since the end of April. His success in 2024 has been largely attributed to his steadiness and control.
For the Red Sox, figuring out the bullpen is crucial. Boston trails the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins by 3.5 games for the third and final American League Wild Card place heading into their game against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. The Orioles and New York Yankees are ahead of the Red Sox in the division by 6.5 games, with seven games remaining. This is the right time, with less than 40 games remaining in the season. Boston might be able to sneak into the postseason if Martin can steady the bullpen.
How Martin Should Be Used Down The Stretch The Red Sox will be getting reinforcements soon, with right-hander Justin Slaten starting a rehab assignment. Outside of that, Boston has to use its current roster. The addition of Luis García from the Angels has been a complete disaster. Zack Kelly, Greg Weissert, and Brennan Bernardino have all struggled at times since July. Outside of closer Kenley Jansen, Martin has really been one of the only consistent options that the Red Sox have.
Martin’s recent performances should send a signal to manager Alex Cora that he deserves additional high-leverage situations. Martin has mostly been used before the eighth inning. With others faltering, that should change. He obviously will not, and should not, take closing duties from Jansen. But Boston has shuffled its late-inning rotation outside of Jansen. The answer for the eighth, or any high-leverage late-game situation, is right in front of the Red Sox. It comes in the form of Martin. That should be pretty obvious to Boston at this point.
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