Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee) still has not been cleared to face live hitters, according to manager Alex Cora. It's what the Red Sox expected as Crawford continues to recover from right patellar tendinopathy that he started dealing with in spring training. Crawford has thrown off a mound, but without facing live hitters yet, it's clear the 29-year-old hurler won't be making his 2025 season debut in the starting rotation in the month of April. He will most likely need to go on a minor-league rehab outing and make at least three starts before being cleared to come off the injured list. Rehabbing pitchers Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) are much closer to making their season debuts than Crawford at this point. Crawford's career-high workload of 183 2/3 innings over 33 starts in 2024 appears to have taken its toll on his body.
Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee), who is recovering from right patellar tendinopathy, is significantly behind Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) in his recovery. Crawford is working out in Florida but hasn't faced hitters yet and could be in line for a lengthy absence to begin the season. The 29-year-old also dealt with knee issues in 2024 and could be feeling the effects of career-high workload last year in which he threw 183 2/3 innings over 33 starts in his fourth year in the big leagues. Because he's without a timetable to return and hasn't even started throwing to hitters, it's safe to assume we won't see Crawford back in Boston's starting rotation until at least sometime in May. With Crawford, Bello and Giolito on the IL to begin the year, Richard Fitts and Sean Newcomb started the year in the back end of the rotation in Beantown.
Mac Cerullo of The Boston Herald reports that Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford (knee) has had no progress regarding baseball activities. Cerullo notes that the righty is feeling better but still "not doing much." Crawford has been sidelined for much of spring training due to nagging patellar tendon soreness, and he could spend more time than required during his 15-day IL stint. The news comes at an inopportune time, as manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that teammate Brayan Bello (shoulder) won't be ready for opening day. Additionally, starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (hamstring) was forced from his Tuesday outing against the Philadelphia Phillies with a hamstring issue, though it's thought to be minor. Crawford was a durable asset for the Bo Sox in 2024 (33 starts), but he'll have some work to do before he toes the rubber in 2025.
Kutter Crawford Will Start The Season On The Injured List
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford (knee) will open the season on the injured list. The 28-year-old is dealing with patellar tendon soreness. This injury popped up sometime during the offseason and will now keep him sidelined for the start of the regular season. The Red Sox could also be without starting pitcher Brayan Bello (shoulder), who is still behind schedule. As a result, this will open up a spot in the rotation for Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester or Cooper Criswell. Last season, Crawford logged 183 2/3 innings (33 starts) with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He tallied 175 punchouts and held a solid 6.7 percent walk rate. He generated a 3.86 xERA and a .224 xBA, which suggests that he should see some positive regression when he returns to the bump. When cleared for action, Crawford will carry value as a depth starting pitcher in standard leagues.
Kutter Crawford Not Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day
The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reports that the Boston Red Sox don't see right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee) being ready for Opening Day in late March. The good news for the Red Sox is that they do believe right-handers Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (elbow) will be ready based on their schedules early in spring training. Crawford, 28, will now be much less attractive as pitching depth in deep-mixed leagues due to patellar-tendon soreness that he's been dealing with early in camp. If he cannot make significant progress soon, Crawford will likely open the 2025 regular season on the 15-day injured list. The former 16th-round pick in 2017 out of Florida Gulf Coast University admitted to being gassed down the stretch last year after making a league-high 33 starts and throwing a career-high 183 2/3 innings. Crawford finished with a 4.36 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 175 K's but also a league-high 34 homers allowed.
Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford (knee) may not be ready for Opening Day. The right-hander has been battling patellar tendon soreness. He recently completed a bullpen session on Friday but is still behind schedule. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during camp, but he may face an uphill battle to ramp up in time for Opening Day. This injury popped up sometime in the offseason. When healthy, Crawford is expected to operate in the back half of the starting rotation. If the 28-year-old were to miss time early in the campaign, Cooper Criswell or Richard Fitts could be given starting opportunities. Last season, Crawford held a 4.36 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 183 2/3 innings of work.
The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey reports that Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee) is throwing a bullpen session at camp on Friday as he manages a bit of knee soreness this spring. Crawford is a bit behind Boston's other pitchers while managing some patellar-tendon soreness in his knee, but as long as he doesn't have any kind of setback, he has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The 28-year-old had a league-high 16 losses in his fourth season with the Red Sox last year and also posted a 4.36 ERA (4.65 FIP), 1.12 WHIP and 175:51 K:BB in 183 2/3 innings over his 33 starts. Crawford also led baseball by allowing 34 home runs. The career-high workload probably led to his career-high 36.3% hard-hit rate and regression in strikeout rate (23.1%). If he's healthy, he'll be in the starting rotation and will be a depth arm in deeper fantasy formats.
According to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford (knee) is dealing with knee soreness. Crawford noted that he first injured this knee during his third start of last season but was able to play through it. However, this was a reason why his velocity dipped at times. His knee has improved over the winter, but he recently faced a setback. McCaffrey noted that he has not ruled out surgery but is working on strengthening his knee first. Last season, the 28-year-old posted a 4.36 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 183 2/3 innings. He struck out 175 batters and held a strong 6.8 percent walk rate. If Crawford can overcome this setback, fantasy managers should expect him to slot in the starting rotation.
Mass Live's Christ Cotillo reports that Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee) is a bit behind the other pitchers in spring training due to patellar-tendon soreness in his knee. However, Crawford is not being ruled out for Opening Day in late March. The 28-year-old might not pitch in Grapefruit League games right away as a result, but as long as he doesn't have any sort of setback moving forward, he should be part of Boston's Opening Day starting rotation. The former 16th-round pick in 2017 out of Florida Gulf Coast University lost a league-high 16 games in 2024 while also posting a 4.36 ERA (4.65 FIP), 1.12 WHIP, a career-high 175 strikeouts and 51 walks in 183 2/3 innings over a league-high 33 starts. He took a step back in strikeout rate and hard-hit rate, which may have been the result of his elevated workload. If he can limit home runs -- he surrendered a league-high 34 -- Crawford could take a step forward as deep-league rotation depth.
Right-hander Kutter Crawford and the Boston Red Sox settled on a one-year, $2.75 million deal on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration. In his fourth year with Boston in 2024, Crawford made a career-high 33 starts (183 2/3 innings ) and went 9-16 (most losses in the league) with a 4.36 ERA (4.65 FIP), 1.12 WHIP, 175 strikeouts, 51 walks and a league-high 34 home runs allowed. The 28-year-old was an innings-eater for the Red Sox last year but struggled with a career-high workload. His strikeout percentage (23.1 percent) and hard-hit rate (36.3%) regressed last year with more innings under his belt. The BoSox added left-hander Garrett Crochet and right-hander Walker Buehler to their starting rotation this offseason, so there's no guarantee Crawford will open 2025 in the rotation in Beantown. At worst, though, he could be a valuable swingman for Boston's pitching staff.
Kutter Crawford
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Red Sox
