The Cape Cod Baseball League season is already halfway through, with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox atop the league standings.

Through the first 21 games, the Y-D pitching staff recorded three shutouts. Only the Harwich Mariners have allowed fewer runs (59) than Y-D (79). While Y-D pitching coach Michael Stanford is proud of his staff’s performance, he emphasized that there’s still room for improvement.

“We can look back at the three shutouts, but I really want to be consistent with everything. I think a lot of guys are still getting used to the impact that these hitters have,” Stanford said after Wednesday’s game. “We’re always trying to get better.”

Manager Scott Pickler’s starting rotation has been outstanding, allowing just seven earned runs over the first ten games of the season. His ace has been Hunter Watkins, a sophomore from Oklahoma State University.

Watkins took the mound on Opening Day against Brewster, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings to start the season. He owns a 0.87 WHIP and has struck out 20 batters over 18.1 innings.

A sophomore from Wichita State, Brady Hamilton has arguably been Y-D’s most impressive starting pitcher so far. In four starts, he’s logged 18 innings while issuing just four walks. His 1.00 ERA is the lowest among the team’s starters.

After appearing in five games for Y-D in 2024, Carson Ballard is back—and better than ever. The right-hander from Georgia Tech has posted a 1.07 WHIP and a 2.57 ERA over 14 innings in four starts.

Tyler Pitzer has been an unstoppable force out of the Y-D bullpen, striking out 16 batters over 12 innings of work this summer. His 0.75 ERA is the best on the active roster. In late June, he was named Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Week and was selected to the CCBL team that played at Citi Field against the MLB Draft League.

After establishing himself as a multi-inning shutdown arm to start the summer, Michael Catalano made the first start of his collegiate career on Wednesday. He previously made four appearances out of the bullpen, often serving as the bulk reliever following the starter. Catalano holds a 1.17 WHIP, and his .406 BABIP suggests he's been on the receiving end of some bad luck.

“Catalano has been phenomenal. He got to start today [Wednesday] and did great,” said Stanford. “He admitted to me that he didn’t have the best stuff, but when it comes to the first start, I think we’re really happy with it.”

No discussion of this pitching staff would be complete without mentioning Dominic Desch, a senior from the University of Nevada. Desch has been a key piece out of the bullpen, logging 11 innings across seven appearances. He leads the team with three holds, highlighting his effectiveness as a setup man. In those 11 innings, he has allowed just one earned run.

“[Dominic] Desch has been really, really good out of the bullpen. He’s a guy that we’re going to use a lot and hope to keep using,” Stanford said.

Bo Rhudy, who recently committed to the University of Tennessee, has settled in as Y-D’s closer. His fastball sits in the 90–91 mph range but features high spin and late movement that consistently disrupts hitters’ timing. Rhudy owns a 0.89 WHIP and has converted four of six save opportunities.

A unique aspect of summer baseball—especially in the CCBL—is the constant roster turnover. Whether due to innings limits, injuries, or other factors, the pitching staff is always evolving throughout the season.

“It’s fun to get new guys in as well, and then we see guys leave all the time,” Stanford said. We all try to mesh as a staff and really work together and with each other to see which guy’s best for each spot.”

With 19 more regular season games before the playoffs arrive, Stanford and his pitching staff are focused on getting better, each and every day.

“As the three shutouts go, that’s something that’s happened, and we’re over that. Now it’s about trying to get better and get a fourth one. We’re trying to work hard every day and try to get better with everybody,” Stanford said. “[At the] end of the day, we’re all just trying to get better and learn from each other and get better every single day.”