Tolle is the counter. Eight strikeouts and one hit allowed over seven against Detroit on May 4, 11 punch-outs in his debut against the Yankees, and a fastball averaging 96.1 mph. Through three starts he's at 2.04 with a 0.74 WHIP and there's a real conversation in Boston about whether he ever leaves the rotation, regardless of who comes back from injury.
- Day-To-DayAustin Vernon (RP) — The Rays have shut Vernon down from throwing due to right elbow soreness, per MLB.com.05/08
- Day-To-DayTy Johnson (SP) — Triple-A Durham placed Johnson on the 7-day injured list due to a lower-back strain, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayLogan Driscoll (C) — The Rays released Driscoll (ankle) on Friday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayKeyshawn Askew (RP) — no05/08
- Day-To-DayTre' Morgan (1B) — Triple-A Durham placed Morgan on the 7-day injured list with a quad injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayAlfredo Zarraga (RP) — no05/08
- Day-To-DayJohn Rooney (RP) — The Rays signed Rooney (elbow) to a minor-league contract Nov. 15.05/08
- Day-To-DayTJ Nichols (P) — Double-A Montgomery placed Nichols on its 7-day injured list April 7 due to an unspecified injury.05/08
- 10-Day-ILGavin Lux (LF) — Lux (shoulder/ankle) is tracking toward a return during the Rays' series in Boston this weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILJoe Boyle (SP) — Boyle (elbow) struck out four over two scoreless innings in his first rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Durham.05/08
- 15-Day-ILSteven Matz (SP) — Matz's (elbow) stint on the 15-day injured list is not expected to last long, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILSteven Wilson (RP) — The Rays placed Wilson (back) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRyan Pepiot (SP) — Pepiot will undergo surgery on his right hip May 13 and miss the rest of the 2026 season, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILMichael Grove (RP) — Grove (shoulder) is scheduled to face hitters this weekend, MLB.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez (RP) — The Rays placed Rodriguez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Uceta (RP) — The Rays transferred Uceta (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayRanger Suarez (SP) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Friday that Suarez's (hamstring) next start will come next week "sometime in the Philly series," Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris (RP) — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILRoman Anthony (LF) — The Red Sox placed Anthony (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Tuesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILJustin Slaten (RP) — Slaten (oblique) allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning for Double-A Portland on Sunday.05/08
- 15-Day-ILDanny Coulombe (RP) — The Red Sox placed Coulombe on the 15-day injured list Monday with cervical spasms.05/08
- 15-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Crochet (shoulder) was able to play catch Sunday for the first time since landing on the injured list Wednesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — Crawford has been diagnosed with inflammation in his right elbow following an MRI, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.05/08
- OutBrendan Rodgers (2B) — Rodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — The Red Sox transferred Casas (abdomen/knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRomy Gonzalez (1B) — The Red Sox placed Gonzalez (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) began a throwing program Monday with 25 throws from 45 feet, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval (SP) — The Red Sox transferred Sandoval (biceps/elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Oviedo (elbow) will be reevaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in two weeks to determine his progress, Marcos Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.05/08
The Red Sox injury list is genuinely depressing — Crochet, Crawford, Houck, Sandoval, Suarez all unavailable in some form, plus Roman Anthony nursing a wrist and Casas long gone. The Rays aren't exactly healthy either, but Gavin Lux is reportedly tracking toward a return during this Boston series, which would be a real shot in the arm for the lineup.
The market makes Boston a -140 home favorite at a total of 7.5, which feels generous to a team starting a 22-year-old rookie against the AL's best ERA. The DK splits tell you the public agrees with the books — sharp money is on the home side, but the recreational handle is happily eating the Rays plus-money. Two starters this stingy don't usually combine to clear 7.5.
If Tolle gives Boston six clean innings, the Sox have a real shot to steal this. If Martinez keeps doing what Martinez has been doing all season, this turns into a 3-1 game in the seventh and Fenway gets quiet. Either way, this is the most compelling pitching matchup of the weekend slate.