Red Sox Rotation Battle Heats Up for Final Spot

Boston has five pitchers vying for the No. 5 starter role as spring training begins.

Mar. 1, 2026 at 9:23pm

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The Boston Red Sox have a deep pitching rotation, with the top four spots locked in. However, the No. 5 starter role is up for grabs, with five pitchers competing for the job - newly acquired Johan Oviedo, veterans Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval, and young prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. The Red Sox coaching staff will evaluate factors like the pitchers' floor, ceiling, injury history, and minor league options to determine the winner of the competition.

Why it matters

Securing a reliable fifth starter is crucial for the Red Sox, as they look to build on a strong 2025 season and compete for a playoff spot in 2026. The battle for this role could have significant implications for the team's pitching depth and rotation stability throughout the year.

The details

According to Red Sox beat reporter Chris Cotillo, Boston views the No. 5 spot as an open competition between the five pitchers. Oviedo, acquired in a trade this offseason, is considered the favorite due to his high ceiling, while Sandoval has an inside track due to his lack of minor league options. Crawford, who missed the 2025 season with a wrist injury, has the highest floor but lowest ceiling of the group. The young prospects, Tolle and Early, have the most to prove as they look to earn a spot in the big league rotation.

  • The Red Sox pitching competition is underway as spring training begins in February 2026.

The players

Johan Oviedo

A newly acquired pitcher for the Red Sox, Oviedo is considered the favorite for the No. 5 starter role due to his high ceiling and the team's investment in acquiring him.

Kutter Crawford

A veteran pitcher for the Red Sox, Crawford missed the 2025 season due to a wrist injury. He has the highest floor of the competitors, but the lowest ceiling.

Patrick Sandoval

A veteran pitcher for the Red Sox, Sandoval has an inside track for the No. 5 spot due to his lack of minor league options, which could make it difficult for the team to send him down to the minors.

Payton Tolle

A young prospect for the Red Sox, Tolle made his MLB debut at the end of the 2025 season. He has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter, but will need to impress the coaching staff to earn a spot out of spring training.

Connelly Early

Another young prospect for the Red Sox, Early also made his MLB debut at the end of the 2025 season. He has a different pitching style than Tolle, relying more on off-speed pitches, and will also need to prove he's ready for a full big league season.

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What they’re saying

“There's a job to win. There's a lot of different things we can do with that spot. Even with the amount of off days we have early in the season, maximizing those. We want to, first and foremost, get everyone through camp healthy, hitting on their goals and what they want to accomplish in camp.”

— Andrew Bailey, Red Sox Pitching Coach (MassLive)

What’s next

The Red Sox will closely evaluate the five pitchers throughout spring training to determine who will win the No. 5 starter role to begin the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The battle for the Red Sox's fifth starter spot is an open competition with no clear favorite, highlighting the team's pitching depth and the opportunities available for young prospects to earn a spot in the big league rotation.