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Red Sox report card: Grading each pitcher's 2026 season
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- Red Sox report card: Grading each pitcher's 2026 season
Red Sox report card: Grading each pitcher's 2026 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Red Sox completed a miraculous midseason turnaround and clinched a postseason berth earlier this week. They couldn't have done it without their elite pitching staff.
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Boston owns the third-best team ERA (3.56) in MLB. Both the starting rotation (despite a season-ending injury to ace Garrett Crochet in April) and the bullpen have been elite units since Opening Day.
As you'd expect, many of the Red Sox' pitchers earned high marks on our end-of-season report card. Here are our final grades for all of Boston's starters and relievers:
Note: All grades are relative to players' preseason expectations. For position player grades, go here.
Starting pitchers
Grade:A+
When the Red Sox acquired Gray last winter, many believed he was incapable of even being the No. 2 starter in the rotation. He was expected to be the No. 3 behind Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suarez .
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After Crochet's early-season injury, Gray stepped up as Boston's de facto ace. The 36-year-old veteran finished his regular season with career highs in wins (18) and ERA (2.72). If we were giving out A++ grades, he'd get one.
Grade:A+
Tolle experienced growing pains in his first taste of the big leagues last season, but his high upside was never in doubt. He showed that upside in his official rookie season, and it still feels like he has another level to reach as he continues his development into an ace.
In 26 starts this year, Tolle posted a 3.03 ERA with a 1.096 WHIP and 171 strikeouts over 148.2 innings pitched. While giving the Red Sox ace-like stuff on the mound, the 23-year-old has also become a fan favorite because of his infectious personality and hilarious sense of humor. His hug with Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone was worth the A+ grade on it's own.
Ranger Suarez
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Grade:A
The Red Sox signed Suarez in the offseason with the expectation that he'd form an elite 1-2 punch with Crochet. When Crochet went down, Suarez helped stabilize the front of what turned out to be an elite rotation alongside Gray.
Suarez's 3.27 ERA marked his second-best in his five seasons as a full-time starting pitcher. He earned his second career All-Star nod this year, and come playoff time, his postseason pedigree will come in handy if Boston advances past the Wild Card Series. The 31-year-old posted a 1.48 postseason ERA in 11 appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies .
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Grade:C
Bello's start to the season was disastrous. The 27-year-old right-hander had a 7.77 ERA with a 1.85 WHIP in 10 starts before being sent down to Triple-A Worcester for a reset. He was called back up and moved to the bullpen just before the All-Star break in July, and that turned out to be the best decision the club could have made.
Bello thrived in his bulk role, posting a 1.98 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 15 relief outings. His contributions out of the 'pen in the second half were huge, and they salvaged his final grade for the season.
Jake Bennett
Grade:A-
Bennett was acquired from the Nationals in an under-the-radar offseason trade that sent fellow pitching prospect Luis Perales to Washington. As of now, it looks like Craig Breslow may have gotten away with highway robbery.
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With Crochet hurt and Bello struggling, Bennett was called up to provide much-needed depth at the back end of the rotation. The 25-year-old took a 3.27 ERA into September, and although he may have run out of gas with that figure bloating to 3.78 after his last three starts, there's no question this was a tremendously successful season for the rookie southpaw.
Garrett Crochet
Grade:Incomplete
Crochet had an uncharacteristic 6.30 ERA through six starts, then spent the rest of the season on the injured list. It feels unfair to give the Red Sox ace an "F" because of an injury, plus he could still play a signficant role out of the bullpen in the postseason.
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Grade:Incomplete
Oviedo made just one lackluster start before spending the rest of the season on the IL. We probably won't see him again until next season, unless Boston makes the surprise decision to put him on the playoff roster.
Grade:D-
We wouldn't blame you for wanting to give Sandoval a failing grade. The numbers are ugly. A 5.15 ERA and 1.686 WHIP through 13 starts is absolutely worthy of an "F."
We're going to be generous here. Sandoval hadn't pitched since June 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and he had several setbacks during his rehab. At the very least, he ate innings for Boston down the stretch when the rotation needed it.
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Bullpen
Grade:A+
Whitlock remained one of MLB's best relievers with a 1.72 ERA and 0.898 WHIP in 54 appearances. He was everything Boston hoped he'd be this season as the perfect bridge to Aroldis Chapman .
Aroldis Chapman
Grade:A+
Chapman didn't duplicate his historic 2025 campaign, but he was still dominant in his age-38 season. He broke the all-time strikeout record for relief pitchers before posting a 1.92 ERA, a 1.123 WHIP, and 35 saves in his second season as Boston's elite closer.
Grade:C
The Red Sox shipped former top prospect Marcelo Mayer to the San Francisco Giants for Miller at the trade deadline. Miller was outstanding in August, allowing only one earned run with 20 strikeouts and three walks in his 11 appearances with Boston.
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September has been a different story. The left-hander's command was an issue upon his arrival, and it has become a problem again as he's walked nine batters in 6.1 innings this month (seven appearances). A "C" grade feels appropriate for his mixed bag of a tenure with the Red Sox.
Grade:B+
Moran notched a 3.18 ERA in 49 appearances for Boston this season. Opponents hit just .153 off the lefty specialist, making him a dependable option out of the 'pen.
Grade:B-
Weissert is streaky, but he once again was a workhorse out of the bullpen for Boston. Only Bello (63.2 IP) and Moran (62.0 IP) pitched more in relief than Weissert (59.1 IP) this year. His numbers on the year are modest (3.34 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), but he hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 11 outings. The Red Sox will hope he carries that momentum into the postseason.
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Grade:D
Slaten was supposed to be a reliable high-leverage arm alongside Whitlock and Chapman. Unfortunately, most of his season has been marred by injuries. When healthy, he amassed a 4.60 ERA and 1.37 WHIP as opponents hit .276 off him.
Tyron Guerrero
Grade:A
As Slaten went down, Guerrero stepped up. The 35-year-old flamethrower posted a 3.10 ERA and 1.107 WHIP with 41 strikeouts and only eight walks in 40 appearances, forming an elite back end of the 'pen alongside Chapman and Whitlock.
Alec Gamboa
Grade:A
Gamboa was an unsung hero for the Red Sox bullpen, delivering a 1.16 ERA and 1.065 WHIP through 20 appearances in his first MLB season. Whenever Boston needed a reliable left-handed reliever or an opener, the 29-year-old delivered.
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Grade:C
Kelly had a 3.31 ERA and 1.286 WHIP in his 17 appearances before being sent down to Triple-A. He struggled in April, but bounced back with only two earned runs through seven outings in May.
The Red Sox ultimately made the right call sending Kelly down, as they called up Guerrero to take his spot on the roster.
Wyatt Olds
Grade:B
Olds made his big-league debut with Boston on Aug. 17. The 27-year-old impressed in his 13 appearances, amassing a 1.20 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. He was sent back down to Triple-A earlier this week.
Grade:B
Samaniego notched a 2.66 ERA through 20 appearances in his first big-league season. He was optioned in June and didn't return to the big-league roster in 2026, but it was a solid MLB debut for the 27-year-old southpaw.
