Red Sox Rookie Payton Tolle Gets Start Vs. Athletics: What To Expect

For the second day in a row, the Boston Red Sox will send a rookie left-hander to the mound. On Tuesday, it was Connelly Early, who dazzled in his MLB debut, striking out 11 Athletics over five innings in Boston’s 6-0 win.

On Wednesday, all eyes will be on Payton Tolle for the getaway day series finale, which has the Red Sox going for a three-game sweep.

Tolle also dominated in his big league debut last month, striking out eight batters in five and one-third innings pitched.

But the 22-year-old hit a speed bump in his second start, giving up five runs in three innings of work. That start last week against the Arizona Diamondbacks came on extra rest. But on Wednesday, Tolle will be working on a normal four days rest.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora previously said Tolle wouldn’t start Wednesday before reversing course.

“I knew [Tuesday] was going to be a likely throw day, so I was told to be pretty flexible,” Tolle said, according to the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey.

Cora said the Red Sox will plan to keep Tolle’s pitch count below his usual 85-90 range, per Healey.

“It’ll be a short one, but keeping him in his regular schedule makes a lot of sense,” Cora said.

Tolle is lined up to face the Athletics again next week at Fenway Park, and Cora said he expects the southpaw to return to his “normal workload,” Healey reported.

“Throughout this season, Tolle’s first full one as a professional, the Sox have given him at least five and often six or more days of rest between each start,” Healey noted.

As for Tolle, how is he approaching his third start in the majors, knowing he got rocked last time out?

“Just not beat up myself,” he said, per Healey. “Try to move on and get ready for whenever my name is called next.”