Red Sox 2026 Rotation: The Best Staff in Baseball?
After an aggressive offseason that landed both Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray, the Boston Red Sox now possess what FanGraphs projects as the best rotation in Major League Baseball. Combined with ace Garrett Crochet, Boston's top three is as formidable as any in the sport.
MLB Rotation WAR Leaders (Projected 2026)
1. Boston Red Sox: 18.3 WAR
2. Los Angeles Dodgers: 17.1 WAR
3. Detroit Tigers: 16.1 WAR
4. Philadelphia Phillies: 15.8 WAR
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: 15.1 WAR
The Projected Rotation
1. Garrett Crochet (LHP)
Coming off a Cy Young runner-up season. Threw 205.1 innings in 2025 and is the unquestioned ace.
2. Ranger Suarez (LHP)
Signed 5yr/$130M. Posted 4.7 fWAR and 3.20 ERA for the Phillies in 2025. Elite postseason performer (1.48 career ERA).
3. Sonny Gray (RHP)
Acquired from Cardinals. Despite age (36), underlying metrics remain strong. Projected as a top-10 starter.
4. Brayan Bello (RHP)
The incumbent. Solid mid-rotation arm with upside. Showed improvement in strikeout rate in 2025.
5. Johan Oviedo (RHP)
Acquired from Pittsburgh. Frontrunner for the 5th spot but will compete with Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval.
Rotation Depth
The top five is projected to account for 83.7% of Boston's starting innings in 2026. Behind them, the Red Sox have Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, and Kyle Harrison competing for depth roles.
This depth is crucial. Every contending team faces injuries to their rotation. Boston now has essentially two MLB-quality rotations worth of arms, providing insurance that few other teams can match.
What This Means for 2026
With the best projected rotation in baseball, the Red Sox are legitimate World Series contenders. Their pitching can carry them through October, where elite starting pitching becomes even more valuable. Combined with a solid lineup, Boston is projected for 92-95 wins and a strong playoff push.