Red Sox’s Most ‘Under The Radar’ Player Comes Up Huge In Win Over Yankees

One of the Boston Red Sox’s most unheralded performers had another strong outing on Thursday.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden identified each contender’s most important “under the radar” player in an article published Friday morning. His selection was fitting after the previous day’s 6-3 win over the New York Yankees.

Up 4-3 in the eighth, Boston turned to Garrett Whitlock to preserve the lead. The setup man retired all three batters in just seven pitches to tally his 18th hold of the season.

Whitlock now has a 2.76 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings. Bowden highlighted the 29-year-old’s successful move from the rotation to Boston’s bullpen.

“He has not allowed an earned run in 42 of 50 appearances, and has allowed only one earned run in 19 appearances since July 6,” Bowden noted. “He’s thriving as a setup reliever for the Sox.”

Whitlock has a 0.96 ERA in 21 appearances since allowing four runs on June 23. He’s issued just three walks in those 18 2/3 innings, a considerable development from previously issuing 19 free passes over 40 frames.

The right-hander arrived as a shutdown reliever, recording a 1.96 ERA in 73 1/3 innings during his 2021 rookie season. He posted a 4.29 ERA in 23 starts over the next three years, but an elbow injury ended a permanent rotation shift in April of 2024.

Whitlock returned from his second Tommy John surgery as a reliever, where he’ll presumably stay for the long haul. He’s emerged as Alex Cora’s most reliable bullpen option after left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman.

Whitlock should keep pitching in high-leverage spots down the stretch as the Red Sox battle for playoff positioning. He should be available for Friday’s game at Yankee Stadium following an efficient outing.