Garrett Crochet takes huge step toward Red Sox return ahead of likely Yankees playoff showdown

Garrett Crochet ruined Game 1 for the AL Wild Card series last year for the Yankees.

And he could be looking to inflict damage on Boston’s AL East rivals once again.

The sidelined lefty ace said he hit 96 mph in a live batting practice session Tuesday and believes he can contribute in the postseason.

Boston Red Sox left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet continues his comeback from left shoulder inflammation during a side session at Polar Park on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

“The way that … just went, I could go get outs,” Crochet said, according to the Boston Globe. “It depends obviously what role they want me in. It’s not really for me to say. I know myself and I know my body, and the biggest thing was that I felt good out there. Felt like I was able to ramp up intensity to a place that I haven’t gone yet. Tomorrow is going to be a big deal, seeing how I recover.”

The Yankees and Red Sox are seemingly on a collision course for a second straight Wild Card clash, although Boston has yet to secure the No. 5 seed.

The loser of the AL Central battle between the Guardians and White Sox can still overtake Boston for that date in The Bronx next Tuesday.

Boston entered last postseason with Crochet anchoring its rotation off a season that earned him second place in the AL Cy Young voting but question marks in the rotation after him.

This time around, Boston has established starters but Crochet is the question mark.

Crochet is closing in on five months since he last pitched in an MLB game after landing on the injured list in April with left shoulder inflammation, having last started April 25.

Boston Red Sox’s Garrett Crochet throws a pitch during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

He did not pitch up to his standards in his six outings before being sidelined, posting a 6.30 ERA while allowing 33 hits and five homers in just 30 innings.

It’s uncertain how Boston would use him in the postseason due to the long layoff and the team having quality starters.

Lefties Peyton Tolle, Ranger Suarez and Jake Bennett plus righty Sonny Gray give Boston four capable starters to match up with the Yankees.

Last season, Crochet dominated the Yankees in Game 1, striking out 11 while allowing just one run in 7 2/3 innings in Boston’s 3-1 victory.

Brayan Bello lasted just 2 1/3 innings in a Game 2 loss and rookie Connelly Early logged only 3 2/3 innings in the decisive Game 3 loss.

“He’s definitely making progress,” Boston manager Chad Tracy — fresh off his promotion to full-time skipper — said, per the Boston Globe. “Again, it’s ‘see how he feels tomorrow.’ I know that there’s a lot of conversation around that because we’re only a week away from the postseason now. So determining how does he feel coming out of that [and] what does this weekend look like is going to be the next step.

“What that looks like now, I don’t know. I just know that whatever it is, it’s going to be done with Garrett’s best interest in mind, making sure that we’re doing it right.”

Crochet noted that he would “feel bad” taking someone’s spot on the roster, and said he would accept whatever the front office decides.

With the season ending Sunday, Boston does not have any soft landing spots to allow Crochet to face major-league hitters in a true game environment before the playoffs begin.

Boston ultimately may just have to trust that its star pitcher can return with no hiccups.

“You’re considering all those things,” Tracy said, per the Boston Globe. “We have to consider it and just be very, very mindful of, again, what are we potentially exposing him to and what can he give us really?”