Two of MLB’s top rookie starters are set to clash in an AL East battle Tuesday night.
The Blue Jays’ Trey Yesavage, making his season debut after a right shoulder impingement, will square off against Payton Tolle and the Red Sox at 7:07 p.m. ET in Toronto.
Yesavage, Toronto’s No. 1 prospect, doesn’t feel like much of a rookie anymore after his breakout performance in the 2025 postseason. The 22-year-old righty started 2025 in Single-A, working his way all the way up to the Majors in September. Then he recorded a 3.58 ERA in 27 2/3 playoff innings, including his historic 12-strikeout performance in Game 5 of the World Series.
Yesavage most recently threw 64 pitches with Triple-A Buffalo, earning him the OK to make his 2026 debut.
Tolle, meanwhile, makes his second start of the year after six strong innings of one-run ball, featuring 11 strikeouts, against the Yankees last week. The 23-year-old lefty is Boston’s No. 1 prospect after making seven big-league appearances in the 2025 regular season.
The Red Sox -- who fired manager Alex Cora after a shaky start -- have now won three straight, while the 12-16 Blue Jays could use a healthy Yesavage amid a rotation battered by injuries. Boston took Game 1 of the series, 5-0, behind Ranger Suarez's eight innings and 10 punchouts.