Adding bullpen reinforcements was the theme at the MLB trade deadline last month, as nearly every contender was in the market for a high-leverage relief pitcher. The Boston Red Sox were no different, adding lefty specialist Steven Matz (even though the fans wanted more).
Matz has been terrific since he arrived in Boston. But for the Red Sox, the success of their bullpen has been tied to the dominant stretch of outings by Alrodis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock. That duo has been dominant for almost two full months now.
After a 2024 season where Chapman seemed to lose some life on his fastball, with his average velocity under 98 mph (accompanied by a 3.