Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Stuck with first big-league loss
Rotowire
Fitts (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over five innings as the Red Sox were downed 6-1 by the Blue Jays. He struck out two.
The rookie right-hander came into the game having not allowed an earned run in his first three big-league starts, but after three more shutout frames, Fitts ran into trouble in the fourth when Vladimir Guerrero and Alejandro Kirk led off the inning with back-to-back doubles. Fitts wraps up his first taste of the majors with a 1.74 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 9:7 K:BB through 20.2 innings, and depending on the moves the Red Sox make this winter, the 24-year-old could head into next spring with a chance to win a regular spot in the rotation.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Getting another start Wednesday
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Fitts is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
After making a spot start Sept. 13 while Tanner Houck dealt with shoulder fatigue, Fitts ended up sticking in the rotation for another turn this past Friday versus the Twins. Fitts was denied a win, but he tossed five scoreless innings in the contest and now appears to have solidified a spot as the Red Sox's No. 5 starter over Cooper Criswell, who was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday. Fitts' upcoming start Wednesday will likely mark his final outing of the season, and he'll look to end the campaign on a high note as he aims to stake a claim to a rotation spot heading into 2025.
Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Turns in scoreless appearance
Rotowire
Fitts allowed five hits and a walk over five shutout innings in a no-decision Friday. He struck out three during the extra-innings loss to Minnesota.
Fitts worked around a few tight spots to keep the Twins off the board and was in line for the win when he exited the game. The 24-year-old rookie has delivered 15.2 scoreless innings in his first three career MLB starts. However, that comes with a lackluster 7:5 K:BB. On the bright side, he generated eight whiffs Friday after totaling just seven in his first two starts. Fitts is currently lined up for a start in Toronto next week.
Fitts will start Friday against the Twins, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Fitts most recently made a spot start Sept. 13 in place of Tanner Houck, who was dealing with shoulder fatigue. Even with Houck back in action, Fitts will get another turn through the rotation. He has yet to allow an earned run across 10.2 innings, though his 4:4 K:BB is less impressive.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Starting in place of Houck
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Fitts will start Friday's game against the Yankees, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Tanner Houck (shoulder) was originally slated to start Friday, his first outing since he faced the Mets on Sept. 4, but it appears the right-hander is not yet ready to return to the mound. Fitts impressed in his major-league debut Sunday, albeit against the lowly White Sox, giving up two unearned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two across 5.2 innings while not factoring into the decision.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Impressive in spot start
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Fitts allowed two hits and three walks over five shutout innings in a no-decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees. He struck out two.
After making his MLB debut this past Sunday against the White Sox, Fitts was needed to make a second turn through the rotation after Tanner Houck (shoulder) was scratched from his scheduled start Friday. Fitts walked three straight batters in the first inning but escaped the threat. Only one other Yankee would reach scoring position against him. Fitts has not allowed an earned run through 10.2 innings to begin his MLB career, but whether or not he gets another turn in the rotation may depend on Houck's status.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Impresses in MLB debut
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Fitts did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to the White Sox, allowing two runs (zero earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out two in 5.2 innings.
Fitts pitched well in his MLB debut, cruising through five scoreless innings before allowing two unearned runs in a rocky sixth inning that included a Triston Casas error. Fitts used just 66 pitches in 5.2 innings, pitching to contact against an inept White Sox offense. Fitts struck out only two batters Sunday, but he has shown adequate strikeout potential in the minor leagues -- in 24 starts for AAA-Worcester this season, Fitts compiled a 4.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 111:37 K:BB in 116.2 innings. If Fitts sticks around in the rotation, he will face a much stiffer test next weekend against the Yankees.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Promoted for MLB debut
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The Red Sox selected Fitts' contract from Triple-A Worcester, and he's scheduled to start Sunday against the White Sox, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The 24-year-old was acquired from the Yankees in the Alex Verdugo trade over the winter and is now making his MLB debut. Fitts has a 4.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 111:37 K:BB across 116.2 innings this season, and he couldn't ask for a softer introduction to the big leagues while going up against the 32-111 White Sox.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Expected to make major-league debut
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Fitts is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Worcester to start Sunday against the White Sox, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Brayan Bello was slated to start Sunday, but he has been pushed to Monday against the Orioles as the Red Sox look to build in additional rest for Tanner Houck, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Manager Alex Cora noted after Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox that a minor-league call-up was a possibility for Sunday's contest, and Fitts appears on track to fill the open starting spot in what will be his major-league debut. Fitts has a 9-5 record across 23 starts in Triple-A this season with a 4.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and an 8.6 K/9 across 116.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Opening at Triple-A level
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Fitts is slated to open the 2024 season as a member of Triple-A Worcester's rotation, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Before heading to Worcester, Fitts will join the Red Sox in Arlington to make a start in Boston's final exhibition Tuesday versus the Rangers. Fitts will be making the jump to the Triple-A level for the first time after he compiled a 3.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 163:43 K:BB in 152.2 innings with Double-A Somerset in the Yankees organization a season ago before he was dealt to Boston in December.
The Yankees traded Fitts to the Red Sox on Tuesday alongside Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice in exchange for Alex Verdugo, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After posting a 5.01 ERA in Single-A in 2022, Fitts bounced back in '23 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through 152.2 innings at Double-A Somerset. The 23-year-old righty may return to Double-A with his new organization, though a solid start could earn Fitts a promotion to Triple-A at some point in 2024.
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Yankees' Richard Fitts: Stacking innings at Double-A
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Fitts has a 3.51 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 147 strikeouts in 141 innings across 25 starts for Double-A Somerset.
Fitts ranks third in all the minors in innings pitched this season while ranking 12th in strikeouts. The 23-year-old righty lacks the upside of org. mates Drew Thorpe and Chase Hampton, but he should be a rotation option for the Yankees as early as next summer. Fitts' top two pitches are a mid-90s high-spin four-seamer and a plus slider.
