BOSTON — A day after clinch day, evaluations became a priority for the Red Sox in terms of how certain players will be deployed in the American League Wild Card round, which starts Tuesday on the road against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
Lefty starter Connelly Early, ranked as Boston’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, certainly looked like someone who can help the club in the coming days and/or weeks.
Making his fourth Major League start in Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 loss to the Tigers at Fenway Park, Early allowed two runs on four hits and two walks to go with seven strikeouts in five strong innings.
The fact that Early competed at such a high level against a Detroit team en route to its postseason-clinching win, added some more relevance to it.
“It was a really fun competitive game, the whole game, and it’s good to face a really good lineup that’s also going to be in postseason ball,” Early said. “So I had a lot of fun out there. I feel like the fans had a lot of fun, too. “
The 23-year-old Early has a 2.33 ERA to start his young career.
“He’s only had one bad inning, right? It was the first one [three runs] in Tampa,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s so calm and he understands what he needs to do. He prepares. He’s not afraid. So he’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish. Let’s see what happens, what decisions we make, but he’s a part of it.”
While Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello are the three starters on tap to pitch in the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series, Early could factor in as a reliever. And if Boston advances, he could grab the fourth spot in the Division Series rotation.
“I’ll be ready to go whenever they call my name,” Early said. “So if AC makes that decision to maybe move me to the ‘pen or something, or whatever that may be, I’m ready to go.”
Another pitcher on the bubble, No. 2 prospect Payton Tolle, threw one solid inning in relief, striking out one.
After making his first three Major League starts from Aug. 29-Sept. 10, Tolle has made four straight appearances out of the bullpen. This is the third time he didn’t allow a run. Tolle topped out at 100.8 mph.
“It was off the plate quite a bit, but it kind of came out like, ‘Ohhhhh, that one felt a little bit different.’ It made me look up [at the scoreboard],” Tolle said. “I’m glad that I’m not looking up there and seeing a bad number or anything.”
How is Tolle adjusting to life as a reliever?
“I think that experience is everything, right? Learning, talking to guys, just trying to put myself in situations trying to be ready,” Tolle said. “I’m starting to feel out when I might come in, when situations arise, or something like that. Just continuing to get the experience of it is helping out a lot.”
Much like with Early, the Red Sox have been pleased with Tolle’s early adjustment to pitching at the highest level.
“That was a desperate team. A good team, desperate to win,” Cora said. “So it was a good spot for him, and he did a good job.”
Nate Eaton, trying to earn a bench spot in the postseason, legged out an infield hit and made a strong play at third on a slow roller by Spencer Torkelson and fired a bullet to first for the out.
“Just a solid player, and a good athlete,” Cora said. “He can play third, solid. He can play the outfield. He’s a good baserunner. He’s putting up good at-bats.”
For the Red Sox, the roster will come into much better focus by the close of business on Sunday, at which point they will know who their opponent is.
“Those decisions, it all depends on who we play,” Cora said. “We have no idea. Right now, we have no clue who we’re going to play. We just have to wait and see.”
