Rookies Connelly Early and Payton Tolle both made their case Saturday to earn a spot on the Red Sox’ wild card-round roster.
Early started and pitched five innings in a 2-1 loss to the Tigers. He allowed two runs, four hits and one walk while striking out seven. The 23-year-old lefty has given up just five earned runs in 19 ⅓ innings (2.33 ERA) over four starts.
“He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish,” manager Alex Cora said about Early. “Let’s see what happens — the (playoff roster) decisions we make, — but he’s a part of it.”
Tolle, meanwhile, pitched a scoreless sixth inning. After allowing a leadoff single, he struck out Spencer Torkelson swinging and forced Riley Greene to ground into a double play. The 22-year-old lefty has allowed two runs while striking out seven in six innings since Boston moved him to the bullpen.
When Cora was asked if Tolle is in the mix for a postseason roster spot, he replied, “Those decisions, it all depends on who we play. Right now we have no clue who we’re going to play.”
Detroit, Cleveland, New York or Toronto all remain potential wild-card round opponents for Boston.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Tolle said. “If they want to keep me around, then I’m more than happy.”
Both Early and Tolle have the ability to generate whiffs, which is extremely valuable during the postseason.
Early induced 10 whiffs, including six with his curveball, against the Tigers. He induced 19 whiffs in his MLB debut on Sept. 9 vs. the Athletics. He has struck out 36.7% of the batters he has faced in the big leagues.
“Throwing strikes, swing and miss, he’s a good pitcher,” Cora said.
The Sox could use Early as a reliever in the wild-card round and potentially as a fourth starter in a longer postseason series.
“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.”
Tolle added, “He’s been pitching his butt off.”
Tolle began the year at High-A Greenville while Early started it at Double-A Portland.
“If I look back at it and go back to around the All Star break, would have never expected being in this spot,” Early said. “So being able to be with this team, do it with these guys who have been able to do it for 161 games now, being able to make a postseason, it’s a dream come true.”
Tolle threw the fastest pitch of his career Saturday, reaching 100.8 mph. He has struck out 25.7% of the batters he has faced.
“I’ve joked around and said I kind of take my brain out of it whenever I’m out there,” Tolle said. “I get to come in and just cut it loose, just go right at guys.”
He called it “offensive pitching.”
“Just kind of come at guys with what I’ve got,” Tolle said.
Tolle’s fastball is well ahead of his secondary pitches at this point. He’s been focusing on his offspeed pitches during bullpen sessions and struck out Torkelson on a slider away.
“It’s like, ‘Oh we can strike somebody out that’s not on a fastball.’ So it was good and we’ll keep fiddling with pitches. Threw a curveball for the first time out of the pen today. Terrible pitch, way outside. But still we’re going to keep working on those offseason pitches, keep getting that feel.”
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