If there was some drama and intrigue around the Red Sox and their potential plans for a pitching rotation this postseason, that probably faded away completely once the team announced that Lucas Giolito would not be available for the wild-card series. At that point, all signs pointed to rookie Connelly Early as the likely Game 3 starter, if necessary, on Thursday evening in New York.
Now that Giolito is out, not only for the opening series, but for the postseason in general, the Red Sox appear to have no choice about putting him on the mound in Game 3–and, potentially, in a Game 1 of the division series against the Blue Jays if the Red Sox win on Wednesday.
The Yankees have announced that their own midseason call-up, Cam Schlittler, who was 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA after making his MLB debut in July, will be on the hill for the Bombers. But the Red Sox have not set Early in stone as their starter just yet.
Manager Alex Cora, speaking before Game 2, termed Early as “almost” set as the next starter up for the Red Sox.
Connelly Early Made Big Impression
Early, the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox system according to MLB Pipeline, has impressed since he was called up in early September after another rash of injuries.
He is a 23-year-old rookie with four starts under his belt, two against the A’s, one against the Rays and one against the reeling Tigers. Early has a 2.33 ERA in 19.1 innings, with 29 strikeouts and a 1.086 WHIP. In 18 starts between Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland, Early was 10-3 with a 2.60 ERA.
Manager Alex Cora was high on Early even before his debut.
“Good pitcher,” Cora said. “I’ve been watching his outings the last few days — the changeup is real, fastball command is good. He has a big arsenal, and he’s not afraid to attack the strike zone.”
(Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)Connelly Early #71 of the Boston Red Sox
Red Sox Could Face Former Northeastern Star
Schlittler took a bit more time to get acclimated, but after three iffy starts in July, he was stellar down the stretch for the Yankees. In his last 11 starts, he went 3-2 with a 2.47 ERA, with 69 strikeouts in 58.1 innings pitched.
Schlittler is a native of Walpole who went to Northeastern and pitched against the Red Sox during a spring training exhibition in Fort Myers in 2020. He remembered the occasion, and is still a bit dumbfounded to go from that experience to potentially facing the Red Sox in a playoff clincher just five years later.
“Freshman in college playing against them in Fort Myers. Great experience,” Schlittler said. “Obviously I am a lot different player than I was then. So didn’t really expect to be in this situation back then, but now I am definitely happy I am.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Alex Cora Reveals Red Sox Starting Pitcher Plans ‘Almost’ Set appeared first on Heavy Sports.