Connelly Early set for first career start against Rangers
connelly early is scheduled to make his first career appearance against the Rangers on June 14, 2026, with Boston carrying a chance to finish a home sweep. The Red Sox entered the game 29-39 and 2-8-1 in home series this season, so the start arrives with the club still trying to repair its work at Fenway.
Chad Tracy said Boston has to play better at home if it wants to climb out of the American League East cellar. “It’s been a minute (since a home series win) and it feels good,” Tracy said before the game.
Rafaela, Duran, and the late push
Boston got to this point by closing Saturday strong. Ceddanne Rafaela delivered a two-run go-ahead single with two outs in the seventh inning to put the Red Sox ahead 4-2, and Jarren Duran followed with a two-run homer in the eighth.
“Every win matters,” Rafaela said after the game. “Especially at home. I want the fans to be happy, that’s what we are showing up for to try and accomplish.” Duran said, “We are picking it up, which is good,” and added, “We just need to put our heads down and keep going.”
Early against Eovaldi
Early’s first start against Texas comes with Nathan Eovaldi lined up for the Rangers. Boston will get a fresh look at a pitcher it is asking to help stabilize the home side, while Texas brings a starter who has worked against one of his former teams in 12 appearances, including 11 starts, and is 4-1 with a 4.68 ERA in those games.
The Rangers entered at 34-36 and had scored just four runs in the first two games of the series. That left the pitching matchup tied directly to whether Boston could finish the sweep after two straight wins built on timely hitting rather than a runaway margin.
Helman’s injury
Texas also lost Michael Helman on Saturday. He was hit by a pitch on his right hand in the eighth inning and exited the game, and Skip Schumaker said Helman has multiple fractures in at least one finger, if not two, and will be out for a bit.
For Boston, the immediate test is simpler: keep the same home form that produced Saturday’s comeback and turn Early’s first meeting with the Rangers into another win that carries the series out of Sunday.
