Despite Boston being a last place team on July 6th, the Red Sox pitching has been pretty good. They rank top 10 as a staff in ERA, quality starts and WHIP, and Payton Tolle has been a big reason why. He has a 3.39 ERA across 74.1 IP with 74 strikeouts and just 23 walks – good enough for the 2nd-best WHIP on the starting staff (min. 10 starts).

His fastball reaches the upper 90s, and his mid-80s curveball has proven to be a devastating strikeout pitch. In his first start of the season for the Red Sox, he struck out 11 Yankees batters across 6 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 earned run. He faced off against the Yankees again on June 26th, and this time, he went 7 shutout innings allowing just a single hit.

The Boston Red Sox may end up being one of the most disappointing teams in 2026, OR they could still make a play for an AL Wild Card spot. Despite being 8 games under .500 at this point in the season, they are only 4 games back of that third spot. As we approach the All-Star Game and trade deadline, it remains to be seen if the Sox will be buyers or sellers, and their position in the standings make it all the more confusing.

But, in order to make a push for October, Boston needs consistent offense. The pitching staff has been getting it done. Sonny Gray is probably the most notable All-Star snub, as he’s gone 10-1 with a 2.61 ERA, which is good for the 9th-best mark in baseball. Ranger Suarez has been great, and young studs Connelly Early and Tolle have been reliable. The offense has just let them down, being 28th in runs scored in 2026.

Win-loss record aside, Payton Tolle has proven to be reliable starter for his big league club, with really good stuff. When he was still a prospect waiting to make an MLB roster full-time, he was profiled as one of the best lefty pitching prospects in baseball, and as he continues to gain experience, I think he can be one of the best at the big league level as well.