Morning Sports Update
“I’m not Joe Schmoe.”
Garrett Crochet at Fenway Park in late August. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
September 8, 2026 | 10:53 AM
3 minutes to read
Garrett Crochet’s potential playoff return: As Red Sox fans have tracked their team’s improbable run from being a last place afterthought to a likely playoff contender in the last few months, one subplot has remained (particularly with a postseason future to consider).
Garrett Crochet, the undisputed ace of Boston’s starting rotation, could make his return from injury in time for fall baseball. Having been ruled out since May due to a left shoulder injury, the 27-year-old recently acknowledged the scenario in which he returns for the playoffs in a pregame chat with Tim Healey of The Boston Globe.
Though he admitted it might seem like a tall task to jump straight into playoff baseball after an extended injury absence, Crochet noted that he takes it in stride.
“I mean, not [to be all] me, me, me, me, but I’ve done crazy things before,” he told Healey. “I’m not Joe Schmoe. I’ve done impressive things. I think that that would be a big ask for some people, but I don’t think it’s a crazy ask for me.”
Crochet cited his rookie year – in which a COVID-forced cancellation of college baseball kept him from pitching live games until he was called up as a White Sox first-round pick several months later in 2020 — as a comparison point.
“That’s pretty similar to how I made my debut,” he remarked of potentially returning just before the playoffs. Crochet allowed no earned runs and struck out 10 in a combined 6.2 innings over the regular season and playoffs as a rookie in 2020 with the White Sox.
He will be hoping to attain that level of instant dominance once again.
Still, the Red Sox ace has many miles to go before he returns to pitcher’s mound in a real game.
Crochet told Healey that he will not be able to make a Triple-A rehab start before Worcester’s season ends on Sept. 20. Instead, he will play in a version of a simulated game during the final week of the MLB regular season in late September.
In the short term, he will go through a bullpen session on Tuesday. Having only reached the upper 80s on his fastball in the first session, Crochet knows he still needs to take it slowly.
“There’s going to be a time where I need to step on it,” Crochet said, per Healey. “First bullpen, not the time.”
Trivia: The Patriots have reportedly agreed to a four-year contract extension with former first-round pick Christian Gonzalez. According to Adam Schefter, it’s the first time a New England first-rounder has signed an extension with the team in many years. Can you name the last Patriots first-round pick to sign an extension with New England?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He was one of two Patriots first-round picks in 2012.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox defeated the Angels 5-2 on Monday. The two teams play again this evening at Fenway Park at 6:45 p.m.
The Patriots kick off the NFL season tomorrow in Seattle against the Seahawks in a Super Bowl rematch at 8:20 p.m.
The Revolution also play on Wednesday night, facing New York City FC at Yankee Stadium at 8 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
Adley at the bat: Adley Rutschman hit his third home run in four games to help Boston get a win on Monday.
On this day: In 2013, Will Middlebrooks became the last player to hit a home run off of Hall of Fame Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during the latter’s 17-year career. Middlebrooks took Rivera deep in the top of the ninth to tie the score at 3-3, though a New York walk-off in the bottom of the inning nonetheless won the game for the Yankees by a 4-3 final score.
Daily highlight: Brazilian midfielder Marcinho scored a physics-defying free kick goal for third division side Paysandu on Monday. The replay of the knuckleball-like shot is worth a watch.
MEU DEUS DO CÉU, @marcinho!
COMO É BOM VER GOLS DE FALTA ASSIM! QUE ABSURDO DE GOL!
E tem uma coisa que também é tão bonita quanto esse gol: os óculos da Yopp. Não caem nunca! pic.twitter.com/PtrskBHz7C
— SportyNet (@SportyNetBrasil) September 7, 2026
Trivia answer: Dont’a Hightower
Hayden Bird
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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