“Nothing in the elbow. That was a huge relief,” said May, who has had two major elbow operations, including Tommy John surgery in 2021. “It’s something that if I had to force it and we really needed it, I probably could force myself through it … It just kind of popped up and I’m trying to stay ahead of it, because I haven’t really in the past.”
Manager Alex Cora said: “We don’t want to push him at this stage of the season.”
May is eligible to return Sept. 21. The regular season ends Sept. 28 (with the postseason opening Sept. 30). He said there is “a very big possibility” that he pitches again this season.
His near-term plan is to not throw for at least a few days, then reassess how he feels.
Neuritis, which is inflammation of the nerves, is the same diagnosis Richard Fitts received for his right arm late last month.
May has thrown 132⅓ innings this season. Over the previous four years combined, he totaled 122 in the majors and minors. He did not think this issue was linked to the significant workload increase.
“This is just something that popped up,” he said. “Just being smart in the moment to let it calm itself down and be ready for a playoff run for sure.”
May was intended to be the Red Sox’ most significant addition at the trade deadline. They acquired him from the Dodgers — who were about to remove him from the rotation — for a pair of minor leaguers, including prospect James Tibbs III, a first baseman/corner outfielder whom they received from the Giants as part of the Rafael Devers trade in June.
Supposed to help stabilize the back of the rotation, May did not, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in six games (five starts). He most recently pitched Sept. 3, when the Sox skipped his start but used him out of the bullpen for three innings against the Guardians.
Early, 23, excelled with Double A Portland and Worcester this season, posting a 2.60 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 21 games. He collected 132 strikeouts in 100⅓ innings.
“He’s been throwing the ball well,” Cora said. “He’s a guy who we’ve been watching for the last few weeks. The repertoire, the command, the poise on the mound catches your attention.
“He’s prepared. He’s ready for this. Pitch-ability comes into play. I’m excited about his opportunity, regardless of the results.”
Another lefthanded rookie, Payton Tolle, will stay in turn and start against the Athletics in the series finale Wednesday afternoon — a surprise development, given that Cora previously said Tolle probably wouldn’t start and the Sox had not committed to any plan until Tuesday.
“I knew [Tuesday] was going to be a likely throw day, so I was told to be pretty flexible,” Tolle said.
The Sox had been hesitant because it will be Tolle’s first time pitching on regular/four days of rest. Due to that, the Red Sox will keep his pitch count below his usual 85-90 range, Cora said.
“It’ll be a short one, but keeping him in his regular schedule makes a lot of sense,” Cora said.
The next time around, next week also against the Athletics, Tolle will be back to his normal workload, Cora indicated.
Throughout this season, Tolle’s first full campaign as a professional, the Sox have given him at least five and often six or more days of rest between each start.
In the majors, Tolle has a 7.56 ERA in two games, a sharp debut against the Pirates followed by an ugly outing against the Diamondbacks.
That led Tolle to “try to keep the freak-out factor low” in recent days. He said he was successful in that endeavor.
“Just not beat up myself,” he said. “Try to move on and get ready for whenever my name is called next.”
Lefthander Kyle Harrison may also be called up to factor into the Wednesday pitching plan.
With Worcester’s pitching staff depleted by the major league club’s needs, the Sox promoted righthander Noah Song to Triple A.
Song, 28, is the 2019 draft pick and Naval reservist whose baseball career was delayed by a post-Naval Academy commitment to attend flight school (followed by Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for all of 2024).
This year, his first full one as a pro, he had a 4.19 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 23 relief appearances (43 innings) for Portland.
Also joining Worcester, albeit on a rehab assignment: righthander Luis Guerrero, who has been out since June 28 because of an elbow injury.
Kristian Campbell played right field for Worcester for a second game in a row . . . Rob Refsnyder (general soreness) returned to the lineup to face lefthander Jeffrey Springs. Refsnyder greeted Springs with a career-long 463-foot, three-run home run that gave the Sox an early 4-0 lead in the first inning . . . Refsnyder’s blast was preceded by Romy Gonzalez’s 426-foot leadoff homer, extending his hitting streak to a MLB-leading 12 games. Gonzalez was removed from the game after reaching on a double in the second inning and was replaced at first base by Nathaniel Lowe . . . To clear a 40-man roster spot for Early, the Red Sox technically called up Vaughn Grissom from Worcester, but only put him on the 60-day IL, ending his season without a major league appearance. He has plantar fasciitis. “I don’t think there was a window for him to get here,” Cora said. “I think he played well. He drove the ball to left-center. But I think the guys who are here have done an amazing job. That’s a decision we made in spring training. It just didn’t happen.”
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.
