Connelly Early is set to start for the Red Sox when they open a road series against the Rays on June 8, a matchup that puts Boston’s young right-hander opposite an Tampa Bay staff still trying to settle on its plan. The Rays will begin with Ian Seymour as an opener before Mason Englert takes over.
The game comes after Boston split two games with the Yankees in New York, winning Friday’s opener, watching Saturday’s contest get rained out and pushed to Aug. 29, then losing Sunday’s finale 6-1. The Red Sox are 27-36 and 10½ games behind Tampa Bay, which still shares first place in the American League with the Yankees even after dropping 10 of its last 13 games.
Early has already given Boston a clean look at this opponent. He was 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA in two career appearances against Tampa Bay and struck out eight without allowing a run over seven innings in a 2-0 win on May 8. That outing helped the Red Sox take two of three from the Rays in early May at Fenway Park, and it also gave Boston proof that Early can handle a lineup built around Yandy Díaz, Junior Caminero and the rest of Tampa Bay’s core.
Still, Tampa Bay’s slide has not changed the standings the way the recent stretch would suggest. The Rays have scored three or fewer runs in eight of their last 13 games and have been held to one run or fewer in four of them, but they remain tied for first. Kevin Cash said Sunday that the club has guys “going through it” on both the pitching and offensive sides, a blunt assessment after a 4-1 loss to the Marlins that fit the way this team has played for nearly two weeks.
The bullpen move that sent Steven Matz out of the rotation and into relief after two poor starts shows the Rays are still searching for a workable answer on the mound. Englert has not yet carved out a clear track record against Boston, with no decision in seven career appearances and 12 innings against the Red Sox, which leaves Tampa Bay leaning on a patched-together plan while Boston gets a familiar look at a pitcher who has already beaten them. For Early, June 8 is another chance to turn one strong start against the Rays into something more lasting.
