Red Sox Rival Releases Veteran Pitcher As Division Lead Shrinks

The Boston Red Sox are putting pressure on the Toronto Blue Jays in an intensifying American League East race. With their lead dwindling, the Blue Jays are jettisoning a struggling veteran.

Toronto officially released Chad Green on Monday after the relief pitcher cleared waivers. It’s a stark fall for a late-inning hurler who notched a 3.21 ERA and career-high 17 saves last season.

Green pitched relatively well in the first half, entering the All-Star break with a 3.60 ERA in 40 innings. The 34-year-old has since unraveled, bloating his 2025 ERA to 5.56 by allowing 11 runs in his last four disastrous outings.

Green has allowed hits to 12 of his last 23 batters faced, serving up four home runs. Baltimore Orioles infielders Ramón Urías and Gunnar Henderson took the right-hander deep last Tuesday in his final appearance for Toronto.

He’s looked nothing like the pitcher who registered a 3.17 ERA in his first seven seasons with the New York Yankees. Green delivered an elite 1.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 2017 and delivered a glistening 0.88 WHIP in a career-high 83 2/3 innings in 2021.

Green allowed 14 home runs that year, but he’s already matched that mark in 40 fewer innings this season. He leaves Toronto with a career-worst 1.47 WHIP and 18.4 strikeout percentage. Opponents are hitting .310 and slugging .630 against his four-seam fastball.

The Blue Jays couldn’t afford to keep utilizing Green amid those steep struggles. After all, they’re only three games ahead of the Red Sox after losing six of their last eight games.

Toronto acquired Louis Varland and Seranthony Dominguez to help a bullpen that ranks 18th with a 4.03 team ERA entering Monday night’s road game against the Colorado Rockies.