The wait is over. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy finally pulled the curtain back on the pitching plan for this Tuesday’s Wild Card clash at Yankee Stadium. He isn’t playing it safe with a tired veteran. Instead, he’s throwing the ball to a kid who has been absolutely tearing through lineups all summer.
According to Yahoo Sports, the rotation for the three-game set is set. The rookie Payton Tolle gets the ball for Game 1 on Tuesday. Following him is 36-year-old Sonny Gray for Game 2. If the series goes to a deciding third game on Thursday, the Sox will turn to Ranger Suarez. Per reports, the plan puts the lefty Tolle in the lead spot against the Yankees.
The Power of the Rookie Arm
Some folks might freak out about a 23-year-old making his first career playoff start. I’m not one of them. This kid has nothing to fear from the Bronx. Tolle has been dominant against New York this year, posting a 0.69 ERA across two starts with 18 strikeouts. You don’t ignore those kinds of numbers just because a player is a rookie.
The matchup is tough, though. He faces Yankees ace Cam Schlittler, a pitcher who led the American League in ERA and pitching WAR this season. But Tolle has the stuff to match him. Tolle is the only guy on the Boston staff with the “electric stuff” needed to shut down that New York lineup. He also has a great track record of missing bats, ranking second in the league for strikeouts per nine innings.
Why Tracy is Right to Trust Tolle
Manager Chad Tracy knows exactly what he’s doing here. He isn’t just looking at names on a roster. He’s looking at what works. Tracy noted that “Just felt like with his power stuff, that was the best choice for Game 1.” He isn’t worried about the kid’s lack of experience. Tracy even said, “I know his age, I know he’s a rookie, but as far as the way he approaches baseball and big moments, that part won’t bother him.”
I love this approach. We’ve seen enough postseason collapses to know that playing “not to lose” is a recipe for disaster. You play your best arms. You play the guys who have been dominating. Tolle finished the season with a 3.03 ERA and 26 starts. He’s earned this moment. Even the legendary Pedro Martinez is a fan. Over the Monster, it was reported that Martinez said, “The guy laughs, the guy pitches, the guy’s a bully. The guy is big, intimidating. He’s got everything. He’s out there to beat you. He’s a bully. I love him.”
A Rotation Built for Battle
The depth here is real. If the Sox can survive Tuesday and Wednesday, they have a massive weapon waiting in the wings. Ranger Suarez is a heavy hitter for a win-or-go-home Game 3. Suarez signed a five-year, $130-million deal with Boston, largely because he posted a 1.48 ERA during his 42.2 playoff innings with the Phillies.
