The Boston Red Sox’s pitching could use some help.
Boston is 9-9 through the first 18 games of the season and although it has won four of its last five games, there are always ways to improve. The Red Sox have scored the fourth-most runs in all of baseball with 96, but still have seen struggles at points in the young season.
One of the biggest reasons why the Red Sox didn’t get off to the start they had hoped for certainly was the club’s starting pitching. Boston’s bullpen has shown a clear improvement already from last season, but the starting pitching hasn’t quite lined up yet. The starting pitching has started to improve over the last five games, but there are always ways to get even better. If the club opted for an external option, one player that may make sense around the trade deadline could be Milwaukee Brewers hurler Wade Miley.
Miley has been a journeyman throughout his career and he even saw time with the Red Sox in 2015 but has always been solid. The 36-year-old joined the Brewers ahead of the 2023 campaign and he has dominated. Miley has compiled a 1.50 ERA in three starts so far this season with Milwaukee to go along with 14 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched.
Milwaukee has been surprising so far this season and currently sits atop the National League Central standings at 13-5, but if things change, the club could be sellers ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline in July. If the Brewers were to make any deals, Miley would make a lot of sense. The hurler has a mutual option with the Brewers for the 2024 season and then will become an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2025 season.
If Boston is able to keep within range of a postseason spot through the summer, Miley might be an interesting name to look out for. Left-handed hurler Chris Sale had his finest start of the season Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins and the rotation has started to get healthier with Garrett Whitlock and Brayan Bello recently returning. Boston still has Corey Kluber, Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck, and soon will also have James Paxton back to fill out the rest of the rotation. If the club is within range of a playoff berth near the deadline, Miley could be a candidate to help take the staff to another level. An addition to the rotation, plus the hopeful returns of Trevor Story and Adam Duvall could change the dynamic of the Red Sox and help them surprise some people.
There’s no way for sure to know what will happen, but keep an eye out on Miley and the Brewers.
