Red Sox Offseason Pitching Additions Struggle in Debut

Highly touted free agent signings get clobbered by Astros in opening games

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:12am

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The Boston Red Sox's high-profile offseason pitching additions, including Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony, have struggled mightily in their 2026 season debuts, getting clobbered by the Houston Astros in the first games of the year. Beyond those two starters, the team's other new pitching acquisitions like Wilyer Abreu have also failed to make an impact so far.

Why it matters

The Red Sox made a big push to upgrade their pitching staff in the offseason, investing heavily in free agents to try and bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign. However, these early struggles from the new pitchers are a major setback and raise questions about whether the team's offseason strategy will pay off.

The details

In the Red Sox's opening series against the Astros, Crochet and Anthony were both roughed up, failing to make it out of the fifth inning in their starts. Crochet gave up 6 runs on 8 hits, while Anthony surrendered 5 runs on 7 hits. The team's other new pitching addition, Wilyer Abreu, also struggled in relief appearances, further compounding the issues for Boston's revamped staff.

  • The Red Sox opened the 2026 MLB season on March 26th.
  • Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony made their Red Sox debuts on March 27th and March 29th, respectively.

The players

Garrett Crochet

A highly touted free agent starting pitcher signed by the Red Sox in the offseason.

Roman Anthony

Another high-profile starting pitcher addition for the Red Sox this offseason.

Wilyer Abreu

A new relief pitcher acquired by the Red Sox in the offseason.

Houston Astros

The Red Sox's opponent in their opening series, who have dominated the new Boston pitchers.

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What they’re saying

“We knew the Astros would be a tough test right out of the gate, but our new guys just didn't have it today. We've got to get them straightened out quickly if we want to compete this year.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to bounce back in their next series against the Texas Rangers, where the new pitchers will try to find their form.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's big offseason pitching investments have gotten off to a disastrous start, raising early concerns about the team's ability to rebound from a down year and compete with the top teams in the AL. How the new pitchers respond in the coming weeks will be crucial to the team's hopes this season.