Red Sox start Tolle in Game 1
The gist
Red Sox named rookie left-hander Payton Tolle their Game 1 starter against the Yankees.
The 23-year-old's 0.69 ERA versus New York makes the opener the series' swing factor.
How it unfolded
- Sep 22, 2026Boston's rotation for the Guardians series — Tolle, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez — was seen as a preview of its Wild Card rotation.
- Sep 27, 2026The Yankees announced Cam Schlittler as their Game 1 starter, with Max Fried and Gerrit Cole to follow.
- Sep 28, 2026Red Sox manager Chad Tracy named Tolle the Game 1 starter against the Yankees, with Gray in Game 2 and Suarez in Game 3 if necessary.