Red Sox bullpen shows strength and weaknesses in 2026 grades
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 15, 2026, 6:46 AM
Last updated Oct 15, 2026
The Boston Red Sox bullpen received mixed reviews for the 2026 season. Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock earned high grades for their performances, with Chapman saving 35 of 37 opportunities and Whitlock posting a 1.72 ERA. However, Justin Slaten and Erik Miller struggled, particularly in October, highlighting issues with depth. Slaten's 4.60 ERA and Miller's poor showing in the wild card series raised concerns. Looking ahead to 2027, the Red Sox have a core of mostly intact relievers but face challenges in solidifying their middle relief.
- •Aroldis Chapman saved 35 games with a 1.92 ERA in 2026.
- •Garrett Whitlock finished with a 1.72 ERA and 59 strikeouts.
- •Justin Slaten had a 4.60 ERA with high-leverage struggles.
- •Erik Miller's performance declined sharply in the wild card series.
- •The bullpen remains largely intact heading into 2027.
- 6:46 AMYahoo Sports — Red Sox Grades: Chapman and Whitlock were elite. The rest of the bullpen wasn’t always
"Aroldis Chapman's 35-save campaign and Garrett Whitlock's dominant setup work anchored the Red Sox bullpen in 2026, but Justin Slaten's D grade and Eric Miller's October collapse exposed costly depth problems.
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