Connelly Early heading for second opinion on elbow

It’s an extremely encouraging update based on initial imaging after Early hit the injured list after being removed from Tuesday’s start against the Nationals with elbow discomfort. It doesn’t appear that he’s dealing with any UCL damage or other structural issues, which would’ve resulted in an extended absence. There should be a definitive return timetable at some point in the near future, but it sounds like Early has managed to avoid a worst-case scenario. He’s worth hanging onto in all fantasy formats with the exception of extremely shallow mixed leagues.

This is not a surprise after Early left last night‘s game with elbow discomfort, but it is a sign that the Red Sox don’t envision this is a minor issue. The team is sending the left-hander for additional imaging on Wednesday, and we will wait to see the results of that before making any predictions on his timeline. If you can hold him on your roster until the imaging results are back, that would be preferential. Patrick Sandoval may be an option to take his place in the rotation in the coming weeks.

Not good. Early struck out five over four shutout innings before leaving the contest after just 61 pitches. The hope for the Red Sox, and fantasy managers, is that the decision was out of an abundance of caution. The 24-year-old southpaw will undergo further evaluation, and likely imaging as well, to determine the severity of the issue. It certainly sounds like a trip to the injured list is in play and he’s in jeopardy of missing his next start against the Cubs at Fenway Park on Tuesday. There should be a definitive update on his status at some point later this week.

Early topped his previous season high for strikeouts by one, though he came up two shy of his total from his MLB debut against the A’s last September. It’s his second straight really nice effort after he began the month of June by going 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA. He’s 7-5 with a 3.59 ERA overall, and he’s looking at facing the Nationals next week.

Early had lost all three of his starts this month before shutting down the Mariners. He allowed just three hard-hit balls, none of which topped 100 mph, and gave up no extra-base hits. That’s a nice change from a pitcher who had allowed five homers in his previous three starts. Early still seems like a weak mixed-league play for the most part, and that will hold true next week in a home start versus the Yankees.

Early also walked two in a really sloppy outing. He’s given up five homers and 12 runs over 14 2/3 innings in his last three starts, leaving him 5-5 with a 3.83 ERA on the season. Coming into June, he was 5-2 with a 2.95 ERA, though that was with peripherals that suggested the league would catch up to him at some point. He’ll remain in the rotation for now and face the Mariners next weekend.

Early was a bit all over the place in this one as he piled up six strikeouts while also walking four, hitting one batter and uncorking a wild pitch. He settled in nicely after serving up a leadoff homer to Yandy Díaz, keeping Tampa Bay off the scoreboard until Jonathan Aranda delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the fifth inning. The positive news for fantasy managers is that the strikeouts have consistently been there of late with Early topping five strikeouts in five of his last seven starts since May 2. He’ll wrap up a two-start week with a home matchup against the Rangers on Sunday.

But not before the Yankees got people in the gates and sold some food. Ranger Suárez and Will Warren were scheduled to start tonight’s game. Suarez will go tomorrow, with Connelly Early following on Monday, but the Yankees have decided to push Warren back to Monday against Cleveland and keep Cam Schlittler in line to face the Red Sox on four days’ rest.

Early was burned by the long ball as homers by Coby Mayo and Pete Alonso accounted for most of the damage against him in this one. The lackluster outing snapped a streak of four consecutive starts where he had allowed three earned runs or fewer dating back to May 8. The 24-year-old southpaw holds a strong 3.26 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 63/23 K/BB ratio across 66 1/3 innings across 12 starts this season. He looks and feels like a top-40 range fantasy starter for years to come. He’ll face a tough challenge his next time out with a road tilt against the Yankees on Sunday. It’ll be a rematch of last year’s postseason when he locks horns with Cam Schlittler at Yankee Stadium.

Early picked up his fifth win of the season in this one, turning in yet another solid start against the Braves after allowing two earned runs over five innings earlier this month. Early threw 65 of his 97 pitches for strikes and managed to keep the Braves in check despite allowing leadoff walks in the first two innings. The lefty closes out the month of May with a solid 3.07 ERA while going 3-1 in his starts. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday against a suddenly hot Orioles offense.