Eduardo

Rivera

Rivera threw 3.1 scoreless innings in his one appearance last night, but the usage made him the obvious pitcher to send down as the Red Sox called up Peyton Tolle to start on Thursday. Rivera should make a return engagement to the Red Sox in the near future.

Rivera arrives in the big leagues shortly after being promoted to Triple-A Worcester earlier this week. The 22-year-old lefty provides Boston with some additional long relief depth while they deal with injuries and depth issues in their starting rotation mix. He’s unlikely to offer enough volume to make an impact for fantasy purposes before he’s shipped back to the minors.

Yes, Rivera is a starting pitching prospect, but all signs are that he will not be filling Sonny Gray’s (hamstring) spot in the rotation, but instead will be used for length out of the bullpen. The Red Sox bullpen has been taxed early in the week, with Gray getting hurt and Connelly Early failing to complete six innings on Tuesday. Rivera should be able to throw multiple innings in one of the games against the Yankees before the Red Sox need a starter in Gray’s spot over the weekend. Rivera is just 22 years old but was somehow cut by the Athletics midway through the 2024 season. Last season for Boston, he posted a 2.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 108/46 K/BB ratio in 87 innings split between High-A and Double-A. He was off to a strong start in two appearances for Double-A this season and will likely join the Red Sox rotation in Triple-A after this brief call-up.

The 22-year-old looked great in two starts at Double-A this season, allowing one run on six hits in 10 innings with a 16/3 K/BB ratio. However, this says more about the Red Sox’s lack of starting pitching depth. With Sonny Gray (hamstring) on the injured list, and all of Kutter Crawford, Johan Oviedo, Tanner Houck, and Patrick Sandoval on the injured list, the Red Sox don’t have many starting pitching options at Triple-A. Payton Tolle is likely being called up to the big leagues to take Gray’s spot in the rotation, which leaves Jake Bennett and Tyler Uberstine as the only true starting-pitcher options at Worcester. The Red Sox will hope not to have to turn to Rivera as an option this season, but he’s now one step closer.

The 22-year-old Rivera was signed by the Red Sox in May 2024 after being released by the A’s and had a 2.48 ERA and a 108/46 K/BB in 87 innings over 15 starts and five relief appearances between high-A and Double-A this season. He’ll probably return to Double-A to begin next year.