The Boston Red Sox have quietly turned their pitching rotation into one of the most formidable units in baseball.
For much of 2025, questions lingered about whether this staff had enough depth and stamina to carry the team down the stretch. Yet, in just 18.1 innings, these three kids named Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, and Kyle Harrison have struck out 25 batters while issuing only five walks.
That combination of dominance and control suggests Boston is piecing together a rotation that could hold up through the final weeks of September and beyond. Here's a look at how manager Alex Cora & Co. should handle the situation.
Red Sox Have Obvious Plan for Starting Rotation in September
At the center of this discussion is Tolle, perhaps the most talented of the young arms. His raw ability is undeniable, and his fastball explodes out of his hand. His breaking pitches have now developed to be true out-getters, potentially. But his rookie status is showing.
In his last two starts, he's surrendered seven earned runs, partly a product of pitching on four days' rest, something he hasn't done all year in his first season as a pro.
The Red Sox must be cautious here. Instead of forcing Tolle into a traditional five-day rhythm, Boston would be wise to extend him with an extra day of rest whenever possible. Keeping him fresh is key not only for September, but also for his long-term development.
Meanwhile, Early has provided a spark of his own. His debut against the Athletics in Sacramento showcased both poise and command, traits that could allow him to hold a back-end rotation spot as the club manages innings elsewhere.
Pairing Early with a more experienced starter in the middle of the rotation could minimize pressure and maximize his effectiveness.
The bigger strategic question for Boston is how to balance veteran reliability with rookie upside. Giving the ball consistently to the arms of Tolle and Early injects energy into the rotation, but it comes with some risks. The organization must use September to identify matchups carefully, aligning their young pitchers against weaker lineups and leaning on steadier pitchers in high-leverage spots, hence Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito against the New York Yankees this week.
Strategic off-days are the name of the game here, and if Cora knows how to do more than anything, it's to organize times off for certain lineups and rotation spots.
If the Red Sox manage this balance correctly, their September could be less about surviving and more about surging. A thoughtful rotation plan, one that protects Tolle, supports Early, and gets Harrison his reps, will give Boston the momentum to turn their promising pitching staff into the backbone of a playoff run.