Overview

• Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello are expected to handle Games 2 and 3 in some order based on matchup considerations.
• Top prospect Connelly Early is under consideration for a bullpen role in the Wild Card round after a five-inning, seven-strikeout outing and a 2.33 ERA through four starts.
• Activation calls on Dustin May, Jordan Hicks, and Brennan Bernardino remain pending, with players not on the roster likely headed to Fort Myers for work rather than traveling.
• Boston opens the best-of-three Wild Card series on the road Tuesday, with the opponent to be finalized before the club departs after Sunday’s game and families joining Monday.
• Crochet anchors the plan after a standout regular season cited in coverage, including 205.1 innings, a 2.59 ERA, and 255 strikeouts.