Red Sox vs Blue Jays Aug 13: Starting Lineups Just Dropped!
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays: A Pitching Matchup Between a Legend and a Rising Star
The Big Picture
Imagine a baseball game where the starting pitchers are 19 years apart in age. One is a future Hall of Famer winding down his career. The other is a 23-year-old rookie who grew up watching the legend on TV. That’s exactly what we have when the Boston Red Sox visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon.
Meet the Starting Pitchers
Max Scherzer (Blue Jays) — The Veteran Superstar
- Age: 42 years old
- 2026 Record with Blue Jays: 1–4
- 2026 ERA: 7.25 (This means he allows about 7 runs every 9 innings — not great)
- Career Highlights: 3-time Cy Young Award winner (given to the best pitcher in each league)
- Career vs. Red Sox: 5–7 with a 5.77 ERA in 14 starts
ELI5: What is ERA?
Earned Run Average — the average number of runs a pitcher gives up over 9 innings. Lower is better. Under 3.00 is excellent. Over 5.00 is struggling.ELI5: What is WHIP?
Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched — how many baserunners a pitcher allows per inning. Scherzer’s 1.53 means 1.5 runners per inning. Under 1.20 is great.
Payton Tolle (Red Sox) — The Young Gun
- Age: 23 years old
- 2026 Record: 7–6
- 2026 ERA: 3.20 (Much better than Scherzer this year!)
- Career vs. Blue Jays: 0–2 with a 5.91 ERA in 3 outings
- Fun Fact: Both losses came this season
A Special Moment for Tolle
Tolle didn’t just study Scherzer on video — he watched him dominate as a kid.
Tolle told reporters:
"I was actually thinking about it today… 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. I got to shake his hand earlier this year."
He even considered sending a baseball over for an autograph!
Today’s Lineups (Who’s Batting & Where)
Boston Red Sox (64–56)
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Sogard | 2B |
| 2 | Ceddanne Rafaela | CF |
| 3 | Wilyer Abreu | RF |
| 4 | Willson Contreras | 1B |
| 5 | Masataka Yoshida | DH |
| 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)
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zach McAdoo | 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 | Nathan Lukes | RF |
Starting Pitcher: RHP Max Scherzer (1–4, 7.25 ERA)
ELI5: What does DH mean?
Designated Hitter — a player who only bats and doesn’t play defense. Used in the American League.
Key Matchup Stats: Who Hits Whom Best?
Red Sox Batters vs. Scherzer (Career)
| Batter | At-Bats | Hits | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masataka Yoshida | 6 | 4 | .667 |
| Ceddanne Rafaela | 3 | 2 | .667 |
| George Springer | 12 | 2 | .167 |
| Willson Contreras | 12 | 2 | .167 |
| Jarren Duran | 6 | 1 | .167 |
Small sample sizes! Most of these guys have faced Scherzer only a handful of times.
Blue Jays Batters vs. Tolle (Career)
| Batter | At-Bats | Hits | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrés Giménez | 4 | 3 | .750 |
| George Springer | 2 | 1 | .500 |
| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 5 | 1 | .200 |
| Myles Straw | 4 | 0 | .000 |
| Ernie Clement | 5 | 0 | .000 |
Stat of the Day
The Red Sox are 23–9 this season when they hit at least two home runs in a game.
Translation: When the long balls fly, Boston usually wins.
Other Notes You Should Know
- Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox reliever) didn’t pitch Wednesday due to "a little bit of elbow inflammation." His status is day-to-day.
- Toronto claimed Paul Sewald off waivers from Arizona. He has 24 saves this year but a 6.23 ERA. The Jays hope he finds his old form.
- Blue Jays manager John Schneider on Sewald: "Veteran guy… had some really good years and kind of a weird down year. We’re looking for a little bit of stability."
How to Watch
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| First Pitch | 3:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | NESN (New England Sports Network) |
| Radio | WEEI-FM 93.7 |
Summary
- David vs. Goliath vibes: 23-year-old Payton Tolle (3.20 ERA) vs. 42-year-old legend Max Scherzer (7.25 ERA).
- Tolle idolized Scherzer growing up — now they share a mound.
- Red Sox offense has some hitters (Yoshida, Rafaela) who’ve owned Scherzer in tiny samples.
- Blue Jays have Andrés Giménez (3-for-4 vs. Tolle) as a secret weapon.
- Boston wins when they hit 2+ homers (23–9 record).
- First pitch: 3:07 p.m. on NESN.
FAQ
1. Why is Scherzer still pitching if his ERA is so high?
He’s a competitor and future Hall of Famer. Teams value his experience, leadership, and hope he can "figure it out" — plus he’s under contract.
2. What’s a "Cy Young Award"?
It’s the MVP award for pitchers — one for each league (American & National). Scherzer has won three. That’s elite company.
3. Why do the Red Sox have a better record but worse starting pitcher today?
Baseball is weird! Tolle has pitched well all year (3.20 ERA). Scherzer has struggled this season but has a 20-year track record of greatness.
4. What does "claimed off waivers" mean?
When a team cuts a player, other teams have a chance to claim his contract (and salary) for free. Toronto grabbed Sewald hoping he bounces back.
5. Who’s favored to win?
On paper, Boston — better record, better starting pitcher this year, and a lineup that hits homers. But Scherzer vs. Tolle is the kind of matchup where anything can happen. That’s why they play the game!