Red Sox Ace Crochet Seeks Redemption Against Tigers

Boston left-hander looks to bounce back from career-worst outing in Sunday's matchup.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:22pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery, with sharp planes of red, navy, and orange representing the uniforms of the Red Sox and Tigers players. The image conveys the dynamic motion and intensity of the game through its abstract, cubist style.A cubist interpretation of a Red Sox pitcher's delivery captures the raw energy and tension of a high-stakes matchup against the Tigers.Boston Today

Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet will take the mound on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, seeking to rebound from his worst start of the season. Crochet allowed 11 runs in just 1 2/3 innings in his last outing against the Minnesota Twins, more than doubling his ERA. The Red Sox will need Crochet to regain his form as they look to turn around their recent offensive struggles, having scored one or fewer runs in their last two games.

Why it matters

Crochet was the MLB strikeout leader in 2025 and has been a key part of the Red Sox rotation. His ability to bounce back from his poor performance will be crucial as Boston looks to get their season back on track against the Tigers, who have won 7 of their last 8 games.

The details

Crochet (2-2, 7.58 ERA) will make his first start since his career-worst outing against the Twins, in which he allowed 11 runs on 9 hits in just 1 2/3 innings. The Red Sox offense has also struggled lately, scoring 1 or fewer runs in their last two games. Detroit will counter with left-hander Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.75 ERA), who has had success against Boston in the past, going 3-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 6 career appearances (4 starts).

  • Crochet's last start was on Monday, April 15 against the Minnesota Twins.
  • Sunday's game between the Red Sox and Tigers is scheduled for a 4:35 p.m. first pitch.

The players

Garrett Crochet

Boston Red Sox left-handed starting pitcher who led the majors in strikeouts in 2025 with 255 in 205 1/3 innings.

Framber Valdez

Detroit Tigers left-handed starting pitcher who has a 3-2 record and 3.10 ERA in 6 career appearances (4 starts) against the Red Sox.

Alex Cora

Manager of the Boston Red Sox.

Willson Contreras

First baseman for the Boston Red Sox.

A.J. Hinch

Manager of the Detroit Tigers.

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What they’re saying

“Trying to look at it like I would any start. It's tough to say following the last one, but that's the only way to separate.”

— Garrett Crochet, Red Sox Pitcher

“You have to chip away with aces. You have to make sure when you have your chances to cash in, get it close enough.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

“A 4-0 game in the big leagues, we can turn it around anytime. We couldn't find the way (against Skubal).”

— Willson Contreras, Red Sox First Baseman

“I don't think any of us are too concerned about our road record (3-9). Obviously, it needs to get better and needs to improve. We need to win games on the road, but it's such a small sample size. … We're just trying to win every single day we show up to the yard.”

— Tarik Skubal, Tigers Pitcher

“It was a well-played game all around. I thought our at-bats were really tough early.”

— A.J. Hinch, Tigers Manager

What’s next

If Crochet can bounce back with a strong outing, it would go a long way in helping the Red Sox get their season back on track. The team will be closely monitoring his performance and looking for signs that he has regained his dominant form from 2025.

The takeaway

This matchup between Crochet and the Tigers represents an important opportunity for the Red Sox ace to regain his confidence and help his team get their offense going again. Boston's ability to compete in the AL East will hinge on Crochet's ability to rebound from his recent struggles.