BREAKING: Red Sox Made 1st Big Pitching Mistake of 2025 Season
The Boston Red Sox are currently tied for first in the AL East, but their pitching staff has struggled. Garrett Crochet has impressed following his offseason acquisition, but Richard Fitts, Tanner Houck, and Walker Buehler have allowed a combined 22 earned runs over just 31 innings.
With Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford sidelined due to injuries, the Red Sox have been forced to get creative with the back end of their rotation and bullpen. One reliever, who started the season well, is now considered the team’s first major pitching misstep of the year—and he could cause even more problems in the near future.
Red Sox DFA Robert Stock, Call Up Josh Winckowski
According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have designated reliever Robert Stock for assignment and recalled Josh Winckowski from Triple-A. These roster moves—alongside the promotion of Blake Sabol to replace the injured Colton Wong—have already sparked some backlash from fans as Boston gets ready for Game 2 of a four-game series against the Blue Jays.
Stock, who was just added to the roster on Monday, made his first MLB appearance since 2021 and pitched two innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits and a walk. Although he entered the game with Boston trailing 5-1, his effort helped ease the burden on a bullpen worn out after Sunday’s doubleheader with St. Louis. Despite his solid outing, Stock wasn’t expected to be ready to pitch again over the next couple of days, prompting the team to make a change.
However, Winckowski’s return isn’t exactly reassuring. The 27-year-old made his MLB debut with Boston in 2022, struggling as a starter with a 5.89 ERA in 15 appearances. He transitioned to a bullpen role in 2023 and fared much better, finishing with a 2.88 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 84.1 innings. Still, his performance dipped last season to a 4.14 ERA over 40 games, and early 2024 analytics haven’t been encouraging either—with a strikeout rate under 18% and middling swing-and-miss numbers, per Baseball Savant.
Stock could still remain in the organization if he clears waivers, giving Boston time to decide his fate. But his promising debut arguably warranted another shot, and now the pressure shifts to Winckowski to prove he can fill the gap.