In 2013 lefthander Craig Breslow was a key part of the Red Sox run to a World Series title. He was someone Manager John Farrell came to rely on down the stretch as a shutdown guy posting a 0.65 second half ERA (1.81 for the season). Breslow’s struggles since then (5.96. ERA last season, 3.98 this season) have forced Farrell to find another reliable lefty in high leverage situations to pick up the slack. Tommy Layne has stepped into that role for the Red Sox since his acquisition before the 2014 season.
Layne started his career without high expectations since he was taken in the 26th round of the 2007 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of the University of Central Missouri.