Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on April 23, 2026.
After a slow start to the season, the Boston Red Sox enter Sunday’s rubber match against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays looking to secure their fifth win in six games.
While the Red Sox are battling the Baltimore Orioles to avoid last place in the American League East, they have held opponents to three runs or fewer in nine of their last 13 contests. During that stretch, Boston’s pitching staff has posted a 2.79 ERA. The bullpen received a boost on Saturday, when reliever Justin Slaten was activated from the injured list after missing over a month with an oblique strain. Slaten has not allowed a run this season, striking out five over 3 1/3 innings in four appearances.
“Another back-end piece that can just lengthen the bullpen out, so it’
