Overview
- Connelly Early starts for Boston against Cincinnati’s Rhett Lowder in the series finale, which begins at 1:40 p.m. ET on NESN.
- Alex Cora resets the bottom of the order with Roman Anthony at designated hitter, Jarren Duran in center, and Masataka Yoshida starting in left as Ceddanne Rafaela sits.
- Connor Wong will catch Early and hit ninth in place of Carlos Narváez after the clubs played an 11-inning game the night before.
- Early kept a rotation spot by adding strength and posting a 1.59 ERA in spring after a 2.33 ERA over four starts in his 2025 debut.
- Lowder returns from 2025 oblique, forearm and shoulder issues and moves up in the Reds’ rotation after Hunter Greene’s elbow surgery and Nick Lodolo’s IL stint, marking his first MLB start since 2024.