Chris Murphy embracing new role out of the bullpen

When the season started, the Red Sox had three minor league pitchers they were going to keep close tabs on while pitching for Triple-A Worcester. Brandon Walter, Bryan Mata and Chris Murphy were all expected to impact the Sox pitching staff in some capacity this season.

Unfortunately, the WooSox’ trio struggled out of the gate. Walter owns a 6.28 ERA through 13 games, Mata is on the injured list with right-shoulder inflammation and Murphy was demoted from the rotation to the bullpen. 

Murphy was far from efficient as a starter, he posted an 8.35 ERA in nine starts. He struggled with his command, walking 25 batters in 36 ⅔ innings. This resulted in the Sox moving Murphy to the bullpen and work on getting his command back. 

And that might have been the best thing for the southpaw. 

Murphy has been impressive over the last 13 innings, he hasn’t allowed a run pitching between Worcester and Boston. 

The left-hander was added to the Sox' roster as the 27th man for the day/night doubleheader. He pitched in Game 1 tossing 2 ⅔ scoreless innings of relief for spot-starter Kaleb Ort. 

Murphy has pitched 6 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out eight in two outings for the Sox. 

“Early in the season, he didn’t throw enough strikes as a starter,” manager Alex Cora said to reporters after Game 1. “He was throwing 95 pitches in four innings. And when we made the transition, he’s been consistent in the strike zone. ... The present is now. That’s what everybody feels around here. I do believe right now, the way he is going to contribute is this role.”

Murphy acknowledged that he was working behind in counts, resulting in the majority of his effectiveness. 

“I’m just trying to work through the middle of the plate instead of trying to nibble.” Murphy said about his recent outings. “I have been working with our pitching coach, Paul Abbott. We have been talking about being more aggressive through the zone instead of thinking about corners and nibbling with two strikes. I have to go at guys early and late in counts, whatever it is.” 

Murphy has had better command of his fastball which topped out at 96.7 mph on Sunday, per Baseball Savant. 

“His fastball is a good one,” Cora said. “It plays. We got some feedback from people in Cleveland (after his big league debut). Spoke to (first base coach) Sandy (Alomar Jr.) after the series and it just has life. He finishes. He has a cutter. He has a slider. He has a curveball. He has been under control here twice with us. That’s something that we’ve been working with him, to throw more strikes. ... We need him to throw strikes and so far, so good.”

Murphy made his major league debut in Cleveland on June 7, he tossed 3 ⅓ scoreless innings, striking out five. If Murphy continues to pitch like this for both the Sox and WooSox, he is going to make it really difficult on Chaim Bloom to not return him back to Worcester. 

He was returned back to Worcester following Game 1 as per the rules of the doubleheader. Murphy was optioned back and because he was initially optioned following his June 7 debut, he is not eligible to join the Sox until Friday (barring an injury). 

As for Walter, he had his best outing on Saturday during the WooSox doubleheader against the Norfolk Tides. The lefty tossed 4 ⅓ innings allowing three hits, two earned runs, no walks and six strikeouts. It was the first start this season by Walter where he issued no free passes to opposing batters. Over Walter’s last two starts, he has only given up three earned runs in 10 ⅓. If Walter can harness his command and continue to pitch with better results, he too could be an option for the Red Sox down the line. 

Mata is rehabbing down in Fort Myers and is expected to begin throwing next week. He has been doing light work the last two weeks and hasn't thrown the baseball. Mata struggled with command this season, issuing 27 walks in 25 ⅔ innings of work. Those totals include an inning where he walked four out of five batters earlier this season. 

There’s no doubt that Murphy will continue to get more opportunities to pitch for the Sox. The jury is still out on both Walter and Mata, only time will tell for the two young hurlers. If the Sox have found another lefty for the bullpen in Murphy, it’ll be one less acquisition Bloom will need to make at the trade deadline on Aug. 1st.