Alex Cora Believes This Red Sox’s Player Has Been ‘Eye-Opening’

Tanner Houck will represent the Red Sox at the MLB All-Star Game this week, but he hasn't been Boston's best starting pitcher of late.

That label belongs to Kutter Crawford, who's been lights-out in July. Crawford boasts a remarkable 0.45 ERA through three outings this month, all quality starts. The right-hander is coming off back-to-back seven-inning scoreless outings, and his ERA on the season now stands at a very impressive 3.04 ERA heading into the break.

Those shutout starts weren't against cellar dwellers either. Crawford carved up the Yankees in New York last Sunday night and silenced the pesky Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon. Alex Cora knows what the 28-year-old is capable of, but even the Red Sox manager has been taken aback by Crawford's current run.

"It's eye-opening," Cora told reporters after Boston's 5-0 win over Kansas City, per MassLive. "But it's a testament of the hard work he put in, in the offseason. Buying into the concept of throwing quality strikes. Get ahead, stay ahead."

Crawford's dazzling stretch shouldn't impede the Red Sox from going after starting pitching before the deadline. But if Boston doesn't add a starter and still manages to make the playoffs, it should feel confident in its chances given the way Houck and Crawford have thrown the ball this season.

The Red Sox will try to go into the All-Star break on a high note by beating the Royals on Sunday. NESN's complete coverage of the finale begins at 12:30 p.m. ET.