RADIO
Payton Tolle Continues to Dominate, a Must-Roster Player in All Formats
Boston Red Sox top pitching prospect out of TCU, Payton Tolle, has dominated since his call-up to the Red Sox on April 23, as he has now made eight starts and has a 3-2 record, 2.28 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings pitched. More impressively, his underlying data fully support his breakout (2.31 xERA). After a cup of coffee with the Red Sox last season, pitching in seven games, Tolle has taken full advantage of his opportunity in 2026. While he isn't generating an elite ground ball rate, all of his other metrics rank in the 65th percentile or better. Tolle also provides fantasy managers with strong strikeout upside, as evidenced by his 27.3 percent strikeout rate, and is a WHIP specialist, thanks to his solid command (7 percent walk rate) and .191 xBA, which keeps the bases fairly empty and contributes to that category as well. While his wins are down a bit, that is more a testament to the Red Sox offense than to his production. Fantasy managers should continue to start Tolle with confidence, and if he is on the waiver wire in shallower formats, he is a must-add player.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Brayan Bello Gets Optioned to Triple-A
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello is being optioned to Triple-A Worcester, according to Mac Cerullo. Bello has been putting together a miserable season, and it continued on Thursday. The right-hander allowed eight earned runs on seven hits while walking three batters across five innings of work in the loss to the Baltimore Orioles. After that outing, Bello holds a 6.34 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and a 44:24 K:BB ratio across 12 appearances this season. The organization is hopeful that he can work out these issues in the minor leagues. The team hasn't announced who is coming up in his place, but Jake Bennett is believed to be the favorite to take over the roster spot.
Source: Mac Cerullo
Source: Mac Cerullo
Red Sox Likely to Promote No. 6 Prospect Jake Bennett to Major Leagues?
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Bennett could be back on the big league roster soon. According to Ian Browne, Bennett could return to the starting rotation as early as Tuesday. The Red Sox need another starting pitcher after optioning Brayan Bello on Tuesday. The 25-year-old is the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox farm system. He has already made two starts for the team this season. Bennett has pitched extremely well in the minor leagues and has earned another chance at the big league roster. He'd be worth a look in deep leagues if he does receive the call back to The Show next week.
Source: Ian Browne
Source: Ian Browne
Garrett Crochet Diagnosed With Low-Grade Lat Strain
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (lat, shoulder) is dealing with a "very low-grade lat strain," per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Starr reports that Crochet can resume throwing as soon as he is deemed asymptomatic by the team's trainers. Crochet appears to have avoided a serious injury after his rehab from a shoulder injury was shut down due to tightness in his lat. The 26-year-old has had a rough year overall in 2026, missing time due to injury and pitching to a 6.30 ERA across his six healthy starts. Still, Crochet finished second in the American League Cy Young Award vote in 2025 and projects as a high-upside fantasy SP1 once he returns to the mound. Crochet had been scheduled to face live hitters before the lat issue, so he may not be too far away from going out on a minor league rehab assignment. Fantasy managers should monitor closely for continued updates on Crochet's status.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Garrett Crochet Suffers Setback, Likely to Undergo MRI for Lat Tightness
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (shoulder, lat) has suffered a setback in his rehab from a shoulder injury and will likely undergo an MRI to address tightness in his lat, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Crochet was initially scheduled to face live hitters on Tuesday, but that will no longer be the case. After finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2025, Crochet has had a disastrous start to 2026. Across 30 innings (six starts) before landing on the 15-day injured list with shoulder fatigue in late April, Crochet recorded a 3-3 record with a 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts. While he appeared to be nearing a return to the big leagues, this latest setback could mean Crochet is facing another extended absence. Fantasy managers in leagues without IL spots may have a tough decision to make if Crochet's MRI reveals a significant issue in his lat.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Connelly Early is Becoming a Must-Add Pitcher
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early is quickly becoming a must-add fantasy option. The southpaw has been solid on the mound over his last handful of starts. Most recently, Early tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits, and striking out seven batters in the win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. The 24-year-old has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. He also struck out five or more batters in each of his last four starts. Everything seems to be going right for Early at the moment. He's looking like a solid fantasy option at the moment while he's pitching this well.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Payton Tolle a Priority Addition as Strikeout Rate Climbs
Boston Red Sox starter Payton Tolle has solidified himself as a key rotation piece for the team, and in doing so, he has also emerged as a high-priority waiver wire target for fantasy baseball managers. Tolle started the year in Triple-A, but he was called up in late April and has been terrific since then. Across seven big-league starts, he owns a 2.66 ERA, 2.19 xERA, 10.02 K/9, 2.40 BB/9, and 0.65 HR/9. His ground ball rate is a modest 34%, but that's close to his career average in the minors, and we're not concerned about it because his HR/9 rate is low. Strikeouts have always been one of Tolle's strengths, and he has put that on display lately. He has 16 strikeouts over his last 10.2 innings of work. He is also 1-0 over his last three starts, as well as 2-1 over his last five starts. With a high strikeout rate, low walk rate, low home run rate, and low ERA -- as well as an ability to pitch deep into games -- Tolle is a must-add name on the waiver wire. The lefty is available in 44% of leagues, and he ranks as the #46 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Samaniego to Operate as Opener on Friday
Boston Red Sox reliever Tyler Samaniego will serve as the opener during Friday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Samaniego was recalled on Thursday, with Garrett Whitlock (knee) heading to the Injured List. Samaniego has been impressive with a 1.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, with 13 strikeouts across 18 appearances with the Red Sox this season. He won't be an ideal fantasy option with Brayan Bello expected to pitch the bulk of the innings. This recipe has worked well lately with Bello, so the Red Sox will continue using it. The right-hander could be a possible deep league option for Friday's game.
Source: Ari Alexander
Source: Ari Alexander
Garrett Crochet Throws Successful Live Batting Practice Session on Tuesday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) faced live hitters for the first time on Tuesday during a live batting practice session since going on the 15-day injured list last month with left-shoulder inflammation, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Crochet threw an inning at Fenway Park and said that he will throw another live BP on Sunday. Compared to his prior bullpens, the talented southpaw said his session on Tuesday went much better. He said the fatigue that landed him on the shelf on April 29 is no longer a problem, and the issue of late has been getting his mechanics back to where they need to be. Interim manager Chad Tracy said Crochet's velocity was sitting in the mid-90s, and that "it was a good day for him." Crochet initially hoped to avoid a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Boston's starting rotation, but at this point, one will probably be required. It means that it might be another week or two before Crochet is back for fantasy managers. He finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025 and should not be available on the waiver wire in any fantasy leagues.
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Source: Boston Herald - Mac Cerullo
Payton Tolle Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup Despite Tough Upcoming Matchup
Even though Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle is scheduled to face off against the first-place Atlanta Braves in his next outing this week, he has done enough to warrant waiver-wire consideration in fantasy leagues where he's still available. The 23-year-old southpaw picked up another quality start by allowing three earned runs in six innings while walking two and striking out nine for a no-decision in his last outing on May 22 against the Minnesota Twins. Tolle now has four quality starts in his six starts in 2026, posting a 2.45 ERA (2.84 FIP) and 0.82 WHIP with 39 strikeouts and only nine walks in 36 2/3 innings pitched. He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in an outing and is one of the more promising, young left-handed arms in all of baseball. Tolle made his big-league debut last year with the BoSox and wasn't quite as good, recording a 6.06 ERA and 1.59 WHIP with 19 K's and eight walks in 16 1/3 frames over seven appearances (three starts). Tolle is rostered in 62% of Yahoo leagues, and he'll have a nice test this week against Atlanta.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Connelly Early a Rising Young Arm to Target on the Waiver Wire
Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early struggled with his control earlier this year, but he has begun to turn it around in that department and remains one of the more intriguing young arms to roster in fantasy baseball leagues. The 24-year-old southpaw is currently 4-2 in his 10 starts in 2026 with a 3.33 ERA (4.73 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks in 54 innings in just his second year in the big leagues. Early picked up his fourth win of the season on May 20 against the Kansas City Royals on the road, allowing three earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking only one and striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. The former fifth-round pick in 2023 out of Virginia has looked much better since wallowing a season-high five earned runs in four innings against the Houston Astros on May 2. In three starts since then, he has allowed five earned runs on 15 hits (four homers) while walking two and fanning 19 in 18 1/3 frames. Home runs have been an issue, but fantasy managers should feel more comfortable scooping him up off the waiver wire if he continues to limit the walks. Early is rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues, and he has four quality starts in his last seven outings while giving up more than three earned runs in just one of his 10 starts in 2026.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Garrett Crochet Set to Throw Live BP on Tuesday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) will face live hitters on Tuesday, according to Red Sox manager Chad Tracy. It will be the first time Crochet will pitch live batting practice since landing on the injured list with left-shoulder inflammation. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday, and if all goes well on Tuesday, the southpaw could begin a rehab assignment shortly after. The 26-year-old has been on the injured list since April 25. Before going on the IL, he struggled to start the season, posting a 6.30 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 30 innings. Fantasy managers should continue to stash the Red Sox ace as he works his way back from the shoulder injury and could return to Boston's as well as fantasy managers' rotations soon.
Source: Tim Healy of the Boston Globe
Source: Tim Healy of the Boston Globe
Garrett Crochet to Throw a Live BP/Sim Game Next Week
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said on Friday that left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) will throw a side session this weekend ahead of a live batting practice/simulated game early next week, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Crochet is currently on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation, and although he is making progress, his return to Boston's starting rotation isn't imminent. The talented southpaw has been out since April 25. Whether Crochet requires a minor-league rehab assignment will likely be dependent on how his throwing sessions this weekend and early next week go. Fantasy managers are going to need to be patient, as he is unlikely to be back in the big leagues until early June. The 26-year-old two-time All-Star was second in the American League Cy Young voting last year, but he has disappointed so far in 2026 with a 3-3 record, 6.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched across six starts. Crochet is rightfully rostered in 99% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Garrett Crochet Throws Two-Inning Bullpen Session on Wednesday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw two innings during an up-and-down bullpen session on Wednesday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Crochet said he will throw a brief side session on either Friday or Saturday before throwing his first live batting practice session next week. The 26-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation on April 29. Crochet isn't very happy with where his mechanics are at right now and said he still has "a lot of boxes to check in terms of workload and time to really iron those things out." Facing live hitters next week will give him a better idea of where he's at in his progression. Crochet said he expects to need more than one live BP session before going on a minor-league rehab assignment, so the two-time All-Star isn't exactly close to rejoining the BoSox's starting rotation. The talented left-hander was second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025 in his first year in Boston, but he got off to a rough start in his first six starts this year with a 6.30 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Still, Crochet is a must-stash in all fantasy baseball leagues.
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Source: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
Connelly Early Re-Emerging as a Prime Waiver-Wire Target
Across 47 2/3 innings (nine starts) so far this season, Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early has recorded a 3-2 record with a 3.21 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts. The 24-year-old has been particularly effective in his last two times out, allowing just two earned runs and one walk while striking out 14 across 12 innings of work against the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves. Early hasn't been quite as dominant as he was upon making his MLB debut in 2025, when he posted a 36.7% strikeout rate in a small sample size of 19 1/3 innings (four starts). Still, the young lefty appears to be settling in and finding his groove after working through some command issues early in the year. Early profiles as a worthy high-upside waiver-wire target for fantasy managers ahead of his next scheduled start in Kansas City against the Royals on Wednesday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
