Morning Sports Update
The move will reportedly be reevaluated “after a couple turns through the rotation.”
Connelly Early pitching for the Red Sox during the team’s 2026 spring training. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
March 24, 2026 | 10:59 AM
2 minutes to read
Connelly Early will start 2026 in the Red Sox rotation: With the start of the MLB season now only days away for the Red Sox, the team’s roster is taking shape. For the pitching staff, it means decisions about who will be in the starting rotation.
One name Boston fans have kept an eye on since his promising debut in 2025 is 23-year-old left-hander Connelly Early. The 2023 fifth-round draft pick struck out 11 batters in his first MLB start last September in just five innings (allowing no runs). It tied a Red Sox record for strikeouts in a rookie debut set originally by Don Aase in 1977.
Heading into 2026, Early faced competition to earn a spot in the rotation, given Boston’s offseason efforts to bolster the team’s starting pitching depth. But according to multiple reports on Tuesday, Early will start for the Red Sox in the third game of the season (Sunday vs. the Reds).
Johan Oviedo, acquired by Boston in an offseason trade with the Pirates, will head to the bullpen initially.
The move, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, will be reevaluated “after a couple turns through the rotation.”
The first game of the season will feature Boston ace Garrett Crochet, with Sonny Gray set to start the second game. After Early, offseason free agent signing Ranger Suarez is currently projected to make his first Red Sox start against the Astros on Monday, March 30.
Trivia: Who was Connelly Early’s first MLB strikeout in his dominant debut?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He beat Roman Anthony to the American League Rookie of the Year award last season.
Scores and schedules:
The Fleet host the Goldeneyes tonight at the Tsongas Center at 7 p.m.
Also this evening, the Bruins host the Maple Leafs at TD Garden at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Celtics welcome the Thunder to TD Garden for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff time.
On Thursday, the Red Sox begin the 2026 MLB regular season in Cincinnati against the Reds at 4:10 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
Robert Parish on Bill Walton: Former Celtics Cedric Maxwell and Parish reflected on the immense talent and personality of Walton.
On this day: In 1981, the Celtics defeated the Knicks 118-116 thanks in large part to Larry Bird’s triple-double (16 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists).
Daily highlight: On a line drive from D’Angelo Ortiz (son of David Ortiz), the Twins turned a game-ending double play thanks to a great throw.
What a play to end the game pic.twitter.com/745w84m4ko
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 23, 2026
Trivia answer: Nick Kurtz
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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