Feb 28, 2025; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Red Sox Opening Day 2025: Which Pitcher Will Start the First Game?

Garrett Crochet gets the nod!

The Boston Red Sox didn’t trade away top talent for Garrett Crochet just to ease him into the rotation. Instead, they’re throwing him straight into the spotlight as their Opening Day starter.

After parting with two top-60 prospects, catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery, along with infielder Chase Meidroth and pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, the Red Sox landed Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. However, he has yet to sign a long-term extension.

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On Saturday, manager Alex Cora officially named Crochet as the team’s Opening Day starter. The 25-year-old left-hander will take the mound when the Red Sox open their season on March 27 against the Texas Rangers in Texas. Cora also confirmed that Tanner Houck will pitch Game 2, followed by Walker Buehler in Game 3.

Crochet is coming off an All-Star campaign in which he made 32 starts, posting a 6-12 record with a 3.58 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, and 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings, accumulating a 4.1 WAR. This spring, he’s continued to impress, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings in Grapefruit League action while allowing six hits and five walks with 14 strikeouts.

This will be Crochet’s second consecutive Opening Day start, and the Red Sox are banking on their new ace to set the tone for 2025.

How does the Red Sox rotation look right now?

Garrett Crochet (LHP)
Tanner Houck (RHP)
Walker Buehler (RHP)
Quinn Priester (RHP)
Richard Fitts (RHP)

Garrett Crochet

Opening Day 2025

Red Sox

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.