Red Sox vs Blue Jays: Aug 13 Lineups Decoded – Who Starts?
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays: The Young Gun vs. The Veteran Ace — A Game Preview for August 13, 2026
Welcome to the ballpark! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just learning the game, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about tonight’s showdown between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. We’ll keep it simple, fun, and packed with all the important details.
The Big Story: A Tale of Two Pitchers
Tonight’s game features a fascinating pitching duel — that’s when the starting pitchers from both teams go head-to-head. On one side, you have a future Hall of Famer winding down his career. On the other, a 23-year-old rookie living out a childhood dream.
Max Scherzer (Blue Jays) — The "Bulldog"
- Age: 42 (one of the oldest players in the league)
- Resume: Three-time Cy Young Award winner (that’s the trophy for the best pitcher in the league — like MVP but just for pitchers)
- 2026 Season Stats: 1–4 record, 7.25 ERA, 1.53 WHIP
- Career vs. Red Sox: 5–7 with a 5.77 ERA in 14 starts
ELI5 Alert:
ERA (Earned Run Average) = How many runs a pitcher allows per 9 innings on average. Lower is better. Under 3.00 is elite. Over 5.00 is struggling.
WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched) = How many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning. Lower is better. Under 1.20 is great. Over 1.50 means lots of traffic on the bases.
Translation: Scherzer is a legend, but he’s having a very rough year. His 7.25 ERA means he’s giving up more than 7 runs per 9 innings — that’s not what you want from your ace.
Payton Tolle (Red Sox) — The Kid Who Grew Up Watching Max
- Age: 23 (19 years younger than Scherzer!)
- 2026 Season Stats: 7–6 record, 3.20 ERA (very solid!)
- Career vs. Blue Jays: 0–2 with a 5.91 ERA in 3 outings (2 starts) — both losses came this season
- Cool Factor: Tolle grew up idolizing Scherzer. He even got to shake his hand earlier this year and thought about sending a baseball over to get signed.
Tolle on Scherzer:
“He’s a guy that, growing up, during high school and stuff, watching him, the competitive bulldog — that’s kind of the guy that pitchers look at. So it’s a cool thing that I’m excited about.”
Translation: Tolle has pitched much better overall this year (3.20 ERA vs. 7.25), but he’s struggled specifically against Toronto. Tonight’s his chance to flip the script.
Tonight’s Lineups (Who’s Batting & Where)
Boston Red Sox (64–56) — Visiting Team, Bats First
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Sogard | 2B |
| 2 | Ceddanne Rafaela | CF |
| 3 | Wilyer Abreu | RF |
| 4 | Willson Contreras | 1B |
| 5 | Masataka Yoshida | DH (Designated Hitter — hits but doesn’t field) |
| 6 | Caleb Durbin | 3B |
| 7 | Jarren Duran | LF |
| 8 | Andruw Monasterio | SS |
| 9 | Connor Wong | C |
Starting Pitcher: LHP Payton Tolle (7–6, 3.20 ERA)
Toronto Blue Jays (59–63) — Home Team, Bats Second
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan Lukes | LF |
| 2 | Ernie Clement | 2B |
| 3 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 1B |
| 4 | George Springer | DH |
| 5 | Kazuma Okamoto | 3B |
| 6 | Andrés Giménez | SS |
| 7 | Alejandro Kirk | C |
| 8 | Myles Straw | CF |
| 9 | Daulton Varsho | RF |
Starting Pitcher: RHP Max Scherzer (1–4, 7.25 ERA)
Note: Lineups can change before first pitch due to matchups, injuries, or strategy.
How Each Team Hits Against These Pitchers
Red Sox Batters vs. Max Scherzer (Career)
| Player | At-Bats | Hits | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masataka Yoshida | 6 | 4 | .667 |
| Ceddanne Rafaela | 3 | 2 | .667 |
| Willson Contreras | 12 | 2 | .167 |
| Jarren Duran | 6 | 1 | .167 |
| Andruw Monasterio | 4 | 1 | .250 |
| Wilyer Abreu | 2 | 1 | .500 |
| Caleb Durbin | 2 | 0 | .000 |
Key Takeaway: Yoshida and Rafaela have owned Scherzer historically. If they get on base, the Sox can score early.
Blue Jays Batters vs. Payton Tolle (Career)
| Player | At-Bats | Hits | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrés Giménez | 4 | 3 | .750 |
| Kazuma Okamoto | 3 | 1 | .333 |
| George Springer | 2 | 1 | .500 |
| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 5 | 1 | .200 |
| Ernie Clement | 5 | 0 | .000 |
| Myles Straw | 4 | 0 | .000 |
| Nathan Lukes | 2 | 0 | .000 |
| Alejandro Kirk | 3 | 0 | .000 |
Key Takeaway: Andrés Giménez has crushed Tolle (3-for-4). The Red Sox will likely pitch carefully to him.
Stat of the Day
The Red Sox are 23–9 this season when they hit 2 or more home runs in a game.
Translation: When the long balls fly, Boston wins ~72% of the time. Keep an eye on the power bats — especially Yoshida, Abreu, and Rafaela.
Other News & Notes
Injury Watch: Garrett Whitlock
- Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock did not pitch Wednesday.
- Reason: “A little bit of elbow inflammation” per interim manager Chad Tracy.
- Elbow issues for pitchers are always concerning — this bears watching.
Blue Jays Add Paul Sewald
- Toronto claimed reliever Paul Sewald off waivers from Arizona.
- 2026 Stats with D-backs: 2–5, 24 saves, 6.23 ERA
- Manager John Schneider: “Veteran guy… had some really good years and kind of a weird down year. We’re looking for a little bit of stability.”
- Translation: Sewald was a good closer having a bad year. Toronto hopes a change of scenery fixes him.
Game Details
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| First Pitch | 3:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | NESN (New England Sports Network) |
| Radio | WEEI-FM 93.7 |
| Location | Rogers Centre, Toronto |
Summary: What to Watch For
- Can Tolle outduel his childhood hero? He’s pitched better this year, but Scherzer has the pedigree.
- Will the Red Sox hit 2+ homers? If yes, history says they likely win.
- Watch Yoshida & Rafaela vs. Scherzer — they’ve hit him very well in the past.
- Watch Giménez vs. Tolle — he’s 3-for-4 lifetime against the rookie.
- Bullpen usage — with Whitlock banged up, Boston’s relief corps may be tested early if Tolle struggles.
Bottom Line: On paper, Tolle has been the better pitcher in 2026. But baseball is weird — Scherzer’s competitive fire (the “bulldog” Tolle mentioned) can show up anytime. This one could be a shootout or a pitcher’s duel. Either way, it’s a great story: the kid vs. the king.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. What does "Cy Young Award" mean?
It’s the award given each year to the best pitcher in each league (American and National). Winning three puts Scherzer in elite company — only a few pitchers in history have done it.
2. Why is ERA more important than wins/losses for a pitcher?
A pitcher can pitch great but lose if his team doesn’t score (e.g., 1–0 loss). ERA measures what the pitcher controls: run prevention. That’s why analysts prefer it over win-loss record.
3. What’s a "Designated Hitter" (DH)?
In the American League (where both these teams play), the DH bats in place of the pitcher. Pitchers don’t hit — a specialized hitter does. That’s why Masataka Yoshida is in the lineup but not playing a field position.
4. What does "claimed off waivers" mean?
When a team wants to release a player, they put him on waivers — other teams have a chance to claim him (take his contract). Toronto claimed Paul Sewald, meaning they now pay his salary and he’s on their roster.
5. Why does the Red Sox record (64–56) matter?
They’re 8 games over .500 (a .500 record = 60–60). That puts them in playoff contention — likely fighting for a Wild Card spot. Every game counts this time of year!
Enjoy the game! Whether you’re watching on NESN, listening on WEEI, or following along on your phone — you now know the storylines, the stats, and the stakes. Go Sox!