Red Sox uncertain when rookie starter will pitch next

BOSTON — When the Red Sox promoted rookie left-hander Payton Tolle to their roster Friday to make his major league debut, it was with the idea that he would, barring unforseen developments, remain in the team’s rotation for the remainder of the regular season.

“We brought up Payton with the expectation that he’s going to be able to contribute down the stretch for us,” said chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.

Certainly, nothing Tolle did Friday night — allowing just two runs in 5.1 innings while striking out eight — changed their minds. If anything, Tolle outperformed their expectations.

That, however, doesn’t mean he’ll necessarily start again in five days. In theory, his next turn would come in the homestand finale when the Red Sox host Cleveland.

“We’re talking about it, how we’re going to play that out,” said Alex Cora. “Of course, understanding his workload during the season and how that plays out. So we’ll talk about it.”

The Red Sox have been careful managing Tolle’s workload in his first pro season and haven’t had him pitch on four days’ rest all year — be it Greenville, Portland or Worcester. Tolle pitched 91.2 innings in the minors this season.

And though they were impressed with his stuff and approach and maturity Friday night in his debut, they’re unlikely to deviate from that script now, in the middle of a playoff race.

The Sox could use an opener Wednesday and save Tolle for Friday, when they begin a road trip in Phoenix. That would give Tolle six days off between starts.

Or, conceivably, they could call somebody else up from Worcester, then option that pitcher back the following day.

“We haven’t talked about it,” said Cora. “We know the situation, understanding that there’s two days for Sept. 1 (active roster expansion). Then, we have to make sure that all the dominos are where they’re supposed to be and then go from there.”