Red Sox: 2 players to call up as Chris Sale insurance
By Mark Powell
![BOSTON, MA - JUNE 30: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox high fives manager Alex Cora after throwing a simulated game before a game against the Kansas City Royals on June 30, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) BOSTON, MA - JUNE 30: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox high fives manager Alex Cora after throwing a simulated game before a game against the Kansas City Royals on June 30, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/559f3c757878a1e4eb6faf8f291963ea6ffeb0b4f91272ef4e273ca429f8258d.jpg)
1. Red Sox should call up Chris Murphy
Truth be told, the Red Sox don’t have too many minor-league arms they can rely on right now. Bryan Mata is injured. Jay Groome has struggled in Single-A. Noah Song is serving a military commitment. Connor Seabold is also struggling in Portland.
That leaves us with…Chris Murphy! Whether Murphy is used as a bullpen arm or a spot starter in the rotation, the left-hander has served his time in the Red Sox system. Currently in Double-A, Murphy has turned in a 3.60 ERA since his call-up.
Murphy has upgraded his fastball velocity the last few years to around 96 mph with tailing action. He possesses a decent slider and curveball as well.
Boston’s 17th-ranked prospect will fly under the radar, but he’s not a bad option for a system otherwise struggling to produce many legitimate top-end pitching prospects outside of Houck.
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