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The Boston Red Sox bullpen is set to improve with the return of veteran pitcher Justin Slaten. Currently, the bullpen boasts a 3.22 ERA, ranking fourth in MLB.
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Justin Slaten
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Much has gone wrong for the Boston Red Sox this season, but the bullpen could help spark a turnaround.
Red Sox relievers have collectively registered a 3.22 ERA, MLB's fourth-lowest clip, entering Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Chad Tracy put the unit's best foot forward to secure Wednesday's 3-1 win.
Garrett Whitlock pitched a perfect eighth before Aroldis Chapman lowered his ERA to 0.66 in his ninth save of the season. Before turning to his two bullpen anchors, Chad Tracy went to Justin Slaten in the seventh.
Slaten worked his second scoreless outing since returning from an oblique injury last weekend. The right-hander has looked particularly sharp in his limited mound work this season.
Justin Slaten's return is anticipated to enhance the performance of the Red Sox bullpen, which already has a strong 3.22 ERA.
The Boston Red Sox bullpen currently has a 3.22 ERA, which is the fourth-lowest in MLB.
The Boston Red Sox recently secured a 3-1 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies.
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Following Wednesday's appearance, Slaten has yet to allow an earned run in 5 1/3 innings. He's tallied six strikeouts while allowing three hits and two walks.
Boston's bullpen would be in excellent shape if Slaten regains his 2024 form. The Rule 5 Draft selection posted a 2.93 ERA and 21.9 strikeout-minus-walk percentage in his first season before settling for a 4.24 ERA and 10.9 K-BB rate in 2025.
Slaten still isn't missing many bats, inducing swinging strikes on just 5.9 percent of his pitches. But he's also not permitting authoritative contact, serving up three hard hits and zero barrels.
Chapman and Whitlock give Boston one of the game's premier late-inning duos, but the Red Sox have spent most of 2026 seeking a dependable bridge to those stars. Slaten can promptly jump ahead of Greg Weissert and Zack Kelly as Tracy's preferred seventh-inning option.