The Boston Red Sox are 97.1 percent locked into the playoffs, and if the Wild Card series kicked off today, we already know who they’d trot out for the first two games. Forget all the speculation, because the Red Sox reshuffled their rotation to pitch Sonny Gray on Saturday, September 5th, and Payton Tolle on Sunday, September 6th, essentially telling everyone their plan.
Gray and Tolle Are Locked In
With off days conveniently scheduled for the 10th, 14th, 17th, and 28th of September, Gray and Tolle could pitch every single start from here on out with an extra day of rest. Think about that for a second! That means they’d be perfectly lined up to take the mound for Game 1 and Game 2 of the Wild Card series on September 29th and 30th. They’re going up against teams like the Royals, Rangers, Rays, and Guardians in the coming weeks, getting dialed in. This isn’t just a happy accident; this is the Red Sox telling us exactly who they trust to get them through the first two rounds of what’s bound to be a brutal Wild Card fight, especially since that series won’t be played at Fenway.
The Game 3 Third Starter Mess
Now, while the first two spots are basically a done deal, that third option for a do-or-die Game 3? Oh man, that’s where things get wild. Historically, you’d think Ranger Suarez is the guy. They just handed him a massive $130 million contract in January, and his career playoff ERA sits at an insane 1.48. But here’s the kicker: he totally whiffed it in his Sunday start against the Yankees, with a tiebreaker on the line no less! Are the Sox really gonna trust him again in a winner-take-all game, potentially back in Yankee Stadium? That’s a huge gamble.
Then there’s Jake Bennett. He’s literally pitching for a postseason starting job right now, hoping to impress over the next few weeks. Imagine a rookie on the mound for a do-or-die game for the second year in a row! Or maybe they go with Garrett Crochet. He can’t give you a traditional start, but he could be ramped up enough to give a couple of innings, kicking off a full-on bullpen game. Mixing and matching, running the opponent’s bench dry by the late innings. That’s a high-stakes chess match for Game 3, and honestly, it’s enough to make any fan sweat.
The Red Sox have a clear path for Games 1 and 2, but figuring out that third spot is going to keep everyone guessing. Jake Bennett has some huge starts coming up. The stakes are through the roof for that Game 3 decision, and we’ll be watching every pitch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
Leave a Reply