Kutter Crawford DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee) still has not been cleared to face live hitters, according to manager Alex Cora. It's what the Red Sox expected as Crawford continues to recover from right patellar tendinopathy that he started dealing with in spring training. Crawford has thrown off a mound, but without facing live hitters yet, it's clear the 29-year-old hurler won't be making his 2025 season debut in the starting rotation in the month of April. He will most likely need to go on a minor-league rehab outing and make at least three starts before being cleared to come off the injured list. Rehabbing pitchers Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) are much closer to making their season debuts than Crawford at this point. Crawford's career-high workload of 183 2/3 innings over 33 starts in 2024 appears to have taken its toll on his body.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee), who is recovering from right patellar tendinopathy, is significantly behind Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) in his recovery. Crawford is working out in Florida but hasn't faced hitters yet and could be in line for a lengthy absence to begin the season. The 29-year-old also dealt with knee issues in 2024 and could be feeling the effects of career-high workload last year in which he threw 183 2/3 innings over 33 starts in his fourth year in the big leagues. Because he's without a timetable to return and hasn't even started throwing to hitters, it's safe to assume we won't see Crawford back in Boston's starting rotation until at least sometime in May. With Crawford, Bello and Giolito on the IL to begin the year, Richard Fitts and Sean Newcomb started the year in the back end of the rotation in Beantown.

Mac Cerullo of The Boston Herald reports that Boston Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford (knee) has had no progress regarding baseball activities. Cerullo notes that the righty is feeling better but still "not doing much." Crawford has been sidelined for much of spring training due to nagging patellar tendon soreness, and he could spend more time than required during his 15-day IL stint. The news comes at an inopportune time, as manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that teammate Brayan Bello (shoulder) won't be ready for opening day. Additionally, starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (hamstring) was forced from his Tuesday outing against the Philadelphia Phillies with a hamstring issue, though it's thought to be minor. Crawford was a durable asset for the Bo Sox in 2024 (33 starts), but he'll have some work to do before he toes the rubber in 2025.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford (knee) will open the season on the injured list. The 28-year-old is dealing with patellar tendon soreness. This injury popped up sometime during the offseason and will now keep him sidelined for the start of the regular season. The Red Sox could also be without starting pitcher Brayan Bello (shoulder), who is still behind schedule. As a result, this will open up a spot in the rotation for Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester or Cooper Criswell. Last season, Crawford logged 183 2/3 innings (33 starts) with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. He tallied 175 punchouts and held a solid 6.7 percent walk rate. He generated a 3.86 xERA and a .224 xBA, which suggests that he should see some positive regression when he returns to the bump. When cleared for action, Crawford will carry value as a depth starting pitcher in standard leagues.

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reports that the Boston Red Sox don't see right-hander Kutter Crawford (knee) being ready for Opening Day in late March. The good news for the Red Sox is that they do believe right-handers Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (elbow) will be ready based on their schedules early in spring training. Crawford, 28, will now be much less attractive as pitching depth in deep-mixed leagues due to patellar-tendon soreness that he's been dealing with early in camp. If he cannot make significant progress soon, Crawford will likely open the 2025 regular season on the 15-day injured list. The former 16th-round pick in 2017 out of Florida Gulf Coast University admitted to being gassed down the stretch last year after making a league-high 33 starts and throwing a career-high 183 2/3 innings. Crawford finished with a 4.36 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 175 K's but also a league-high 34 homers allowed.