All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, who averaged 97.08 mph with his four-seamer last year, according to Statcast™, anchors the group. And he now has a top-flight setup man who features the hard stuff first in Tyler Thornburg.
"It's good," said Kimbrel. "He's a strikeout machine. The way the game's going, strike zone's getting smaller, so we're going to have to strike out more guys. It's just part of the game."
Joe Kelly had struggled to stay consistent and healthy as a starter in his first couple of years with the Red Sox, but his momentum changed after converting to the bullpen at midseason.