Payton Tolle Or Kyle Harrison? Red Sox Tip Starting Pitching Plan Vs. Pirates

The Boston Red Sox starting rotation for the weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates is taking shape.

“The Red Sox list Dustin May as their starter for Saturday. So that means they need somebody for tomorrow,” the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey reported Thursday before Boston’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.

“Dustin May pushed back to Saturday,” Masslive.com’s Christopher Smith confirmed. “So that probably makes it more likely Payton Tolle makes his big league debut Friday but nothing official yet. It would be Tolle vs. (Paul) Skenes.”

“(Manager) Alex Cora said the Red Sox haven’t decided on a starter for tomorrow and that the game today will influence their decision,” Healey added. “’Everybody is in the mix,’ (Cora) said again.”

“Alex Cora said this doesn’t mean Tolle will pitch Friday,” Smith noted. “He said everyone is still in play, including Tolle. He said how today’s game plays out will ‘100 percent’ determine who starts Friday.”

Tolle and Kyle Harrison are the front-runners to fill the open spot in the rotation. Harrison started for Triple-A Worcester Tuesday, but left the game after just three innings. The left-hander gave up one run on three hits and one walk, but only threw 38 pitches.

Tolle had been slated to start Friday for the WooSox. The left-hander has rocketed through the minors this year.

The 22-year-old started this season with High-A Greenville, where he went 1-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 11 games (10 starts). He struck out 79 batters in 49 2/3 innings pitched.

The Red Sox promoted the 2024 second-round draft pick to Double-A Portland in June. He went 1-1 with a 1.67 ERA in six games (5 starts) and struck out 37 batters in 27 innings, earning a surprising bump to Triple-A Worcester earlier this month.

The southpaw has made three starts for Worcester, going 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.

In its updated list of the top 100 prospects, as well as the top 30 prospects for each club. MLB Pipeline has Tolle No. 2 for the Red Sox, behind shortstop Franklin Arias, who ranks No. 24 overall. Tolle is No. 28 overall.

Should Tolle get the ball Friday, he would face Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who is the leading contender for the National League Cy Young Award. The second-year phenom leads the majors with a 2.07 ERA.