Alex Cora officially names Garrett Crochet Opening Day starter
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Garrett Crochet will be this year's Opening Day starter on March 27 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
It's the announcement most knew was coming, but few knew when.
The time came for Alex Cora to designate Crochet as the starter for the opener Saturday morning prior to the Red Sox' game at JetBlue Park against the Braves. The Sox manager also revealed Tanner Houck would be following up Crochet, with Walker Buehler pitching in the third game.
"Talked to Tanner. He was the best starter last year, an All-Star. Just who he is. Stuff is big. There is a reason we brought him her and we envision him as a true No. 1," Cora said of Crochet. "Where we're at as an organization and what he represents it will be good for him, too, to throw the first pitch of the season."
For Cora - who told Crochet the news earlier this week - it will be his fifth different Opening Day starter, having given the ball to Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Corey Kluber and last year's choice, Brayan Bello.
As for the rest of the rotation, Cora said that Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester, Cooper Criswell, Sean Newcomb and perhaps Michael Fulmer were in the mix to fill the spots vacated by the injured Lucas Giolito, Bello and Kutter Crawford.
