Why Payton Tolle will start Game 1 for the Red Sox; Crochet, Contreras updates

Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy officially announced that rookie left-hander Payton Tolle will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees. The team selected Tolle based on his overpowering fastball mix matchup against a Yankees lineup that struggled against fastballs this season. Following Tolle, the Red Sox will start Sonny Gray in Game 2 and Ranger Suarez in a potential Game 3.

Tolle made 26 starts during the regular season, recording a 3.03 ERA and a 28 percent strikeout rate. In doing so, he joined Dutch Leonard and Smokey Joe Wood as the only Red Sox pitchers age 23 or younger with multiple 12-strikeout starts in a single season. Tolle also previously pitched out of the bullpen against New York during last season's Wild Card Series.