Red Sox Manager Chad Tracy Explains Why Payton Tolle is Starting Game 1 of MLB Wild Card Series Against Yankees
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Red Sox Manager Chad Tracy Explains Why Payton Tolle is Starting Game 1 of MLB Wild Card Series Against Yankees originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The latest chapter of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry begins on Tuesday with the Wild Card game. After losing the series to New York last year, can Boston take it this time?
Both teams feature the top hitters and pitchers in baseball, including two Cy Young contenders. One contender, Cam Schlittler, starts Game 1 for the Yankees. The Red Sox will counter Schlittler with an electric rookie.
Payton Tolle will start Game 1 against Schlittler. Cy Young contender Sonny Gray will pitch on Wednesday against Max Fried.
Picked in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Tolle debuted in 2025. This year, Tolle went 9-6 with a 3.03 ERA and struck out 171 batters. He’s also entertaining, from hugging players to shutting them down with strikeouts.
Given Gray’s ace status, why did manager Chad Tracy announce Tolle as the starter?
Why is Payton Tolle Starting Game 1 of MLB Wild Card Series against the Yankees?
Tracy was asked about starting Tolle, as it's a big moment for the 23-year-old.
However, Tracy believes in his skills and how he faces hitters.
"We had a good idea, even going into last week, that we were leaning that way, which is why we arranged the rotation at the beginning of this past week the way we did… With his power stuff, that was the best choice for Game 1," Tracy said.
Chad Tracy announces Payton Tolle as the Red Sox Game 1 starter 👀🎙️
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"With Payton, when he’s starting, you’re not as much worried about who’s in the lineup. You trust him either way. We’re pretty confident in who he is as a pitcher and what he brings to the table, regardless of who he’s facing."
In two games against the Yankees this year, Tolle went 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA and struck out 18 Bronx Bombers. The Yankees lineup has a combined .125/.152/.219 slash line with a .370 OPS, with four hits in 32 at-bats.
Aaron Judge, who is attempting to play in the series, has struck out twice against Tolle.