BOSTON -- Sonny Gray’s stint on the 15-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain will give lefty Payton Tolle, Boston’s No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, a chance to shine.
The 23-year-old lefty will be promoted from Triple-A Worcester to start the Thursday night finale of a three-game series against the Yankees at Fenway Park, a source told MLB.com.
Tolle appeared to be the clear front-runner to take Gray’s spot all along, especially considering he is well-rested, having been scratched from his start last weekend when there was rain forecast at Fenway and the Sox were holding him out as a contingency plan in the event of a doubleheader.
Instead, Tolle’s return to the big leagues comes on a much bigger stage as he faces Yankees fireballer Cam Schlittler -- a native of Walpole, Mass. -- to close out the first rivalry series of 2026.
The charismatic Tolle, never shy about showing emotion on the mound, could breathe some life into a Red Sox team that has struggled mightily out of the gate, going 9-15.
Gray strained his right hamstring in an abbreviated 2 2/3-inning start against the Tigers on Monday.
Brayan Bello was originally scheduled to pitch on Thursday, but the Sox pushed him back to Friday in Baltimore. The insertion of Tolle for Thursday’s contest allows ace Garrett Crochet and lefty Connelly Early to also get an extra day of rest before their respective starts on Saturday and Sunday against the O’s.
Tolle made his debut for the Red Sox last season, posting a 6.06 ERA in seven appearances, including three starts.
He was in competition to be the No. 5 starter in Spring Training, and he showed flashes of brilliance. But he ultimately lost out to his close friend, Early.
Gray’s injury provides a chance for the two young lefties to be in the rotation at the same time for at least the short term.
In three starts for Worcester this season, Tolle is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA, notching 19 strikeouts while walking just four in 15 innings.
Tolle’s goal in the offseason was to refine his secondary offerings, and the Sox did see some progress during Spring Training.
Gray, who has dealt with right hamstring issues in the past, is confident the injury will be short term.
“Overall, I feel as I hoped and expected to feel. There’s a little bit of soreness there, but it’s not that bad,” said Gray. “Overall, the way I feel is frustrated, but also I feel good. Frustrated because I’m going to probably miss a couple of starts, but I feel good because overall in the grand scheme of it, I feel good. That’s how I feel.”
Crawford, Sandoval injuries further compromise starting depth
Heading into the season, there was talk the Sox had an excess of starting pitching. But injuries to Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval have compromised the team’s rotation depth.
Veterans Crawford (right wrist surgery) and Sandoval (UCL reconstruction) both didn’t pitch last season, but they were making steady progress throughout Spring Training. However, they’ve both had setbacks in recent weeks.
Crawford made one Minor League rehab start, but he was recalled from the assignment with flexor tendon irritation.
“I did get an image as a precautionary measure,” Crawford said. “Structurally … everything is good. Currently I'm shut down and waiting on strength to come back up to the baseline, and it's trending in the right direction. So hopefully I’ll be throwing soon.”
Sandoval made two rehab starts but was shut down with biceps soreness. Oviedo has been on the injured list since April 3 with a right elbow strain.