Red Sox Bullpen Changes Present Major Question Amid Playoff Push

The Red Sox are playing a dangerous game entering the final stretch of the regular season…

Boston, which has 12 games remaining on the schedule and sits 3.5 games ahead in the standings for the American League Wild Card, is attempting to reset the pitching staff to maximize the usage of its top starting trio — Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito.

Giolito, Bello and Crochet are expected to pitch in that order on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Payton Tolle and Kyle Harrison, the primary candidates to make spot starts, are being moved to the bullpen, however. Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted as much on Tuesday.

“(Tolle and Harrison) will be out of the bullpen for this series and then we’ll see what we do,” Cora said, as transcribed by Christopher Smith of MassLive.

The Red Sox seemingly intend to take advantage of their upcoming series against the Athletics and Rays, which could allow them to lock down a postseason spot and really line things up to their advantage.

Tolle and Harrison will likely be expected to make starts this weekend, though, which is why they’ll be removed from the bullpen on Thursday.

Dustin May and Richard Fitts are currently dealing with injuries, so the club might not have much of a choice but insert both aforementioned rookies back into the rotation to keep everyone fresh during the final two weeks of the season.

Connelly Early will get the start on Tuesday against the Athletics, and if he continues pitching well, likely a few more after that.