One would have to do significant research to find a reliever who had a worse day on the mound than Boston Red Sox pitcher Kyle Barraclough did on Monday.
How bad was it? Barraclough entered the game against the Houston Astros with two outs in the fifth inning. At that time, the Red Sox were leading the game 4-3. The Astros ended up winning 13-5.
All 10 of the runs Houston scored from that point were earned and charged to Barraclough’s record.
Kyle Barraclough vs. Astros tonight:
4.1 IP, 10 ER, 11 H, 1 SO, 5 BB, 3 HBP, 94 P pic.twitter.com/0dgh4v1rOb
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 29, 2023
For some context, entering Monday, no pitcher had made more appearances than Seattle Mariners reliever Matt Brash. If he had an outing like that, his ERA would go from 3.60 to 4.85. San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb leads MLB in innings pitched. Such a line would move Webb’s ERA from 3.51 to 3.92. Monday was only Barraclough’s third outing of the season. Entering the game, his ERA was a tidy 2.70. Now it’s more than 10 points higher, coming in at 12.91.
During and after his game, people were wondering what was wrong with Barraclough and more importantly, why was he left in the game for so long?
Alex Cora leaving Barraclough in the game pic.twitter.com/ThMHhA9wE9
— The Crawfish Boxes (@CrawfishBoxes) August 29, 2023
There's something wild happening in Boston, where this is Kyle Barraclough's sixth inning … and no one is warming in the bullpen. pic.twitter.com/4Fl2E95odY
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 29, 2023
If you look to your right, you'll see the Boston Red Sox try their damndest to end Kyle Barraclough's career. May we pray for his throwing arm and the inevitable DFA he will probably receive. Amen. pic.twitter.com/CkglOgAiYg
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) August 29, 2023
Cora sending Barraclough back out pic.twitter.com/6Pshw1O85j
— Pod On Lansdowne (@PodOnLansdowne) August 29, 2023
What Cora is doing to Barraclough is a workplace safety issue.
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 29, 2023
Have to feel bad for Barraclough at this point. For reasons unclear, the Sox are leaving him out there to roast. Hard to imagine this is what Cora actually wants to do.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 29, 2023
Kyle Barraclough postgame press conference. pic.twitter.com/E57TeD38NL
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 29, 2023
Per Jared Carrabis of Draft Kings, Alex Cora explained after the game that Boston had a short bullpen on Monday and that Barraclough volunteered to pitch the ninth, rather than going to a position player.
AC said the whole bullpen was down except for basically Kenley and that they’ll be in better shape tomorrow. Said Barraclough wanted the 9th so that a position player didn’t have to go out there. Tonight sucked big time. Can still win the series, but that was so ugly.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 29, 2023
August is referred to as “The Dog Days” for a reason. Everyone is tired. Very few players are healthy. Nowhere is that more apparent than on a team’s pitching staff, both the starters and bullpen. That said, the Red Sox were home on Sunday and used only three pitchers. Barraclough was one of only two pitchers used on Monday, following only Chris Sale. He certainly took one for the team. But it feels like it didn’t need to be quite that drastic.
[Talkin’ Baseball, Jared Carrabis]
