Red Sox Make Surprise Starting Pitcher Decision In Four-Player Roster Shakeup originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are handing the ball to an unexpected starter as they continue their postseason push.
Boston announced four roster moves Tuesday, highlighted by the selection of right-handed pitcher Jedixson Paez to the major league roster. Paez will start Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox also reinstated versatile infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the 60-day injured list, giving interim manager Chad Tracy another experienced option for the stretch run. To create the necessary roster space, Boston designated infielder Brett Harris for assignment. The club also recalled left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera from Triple-A Worcester before placing him on the 60-day injured list with a lumbar strain.
Paez is easily the most fascinating name involved. The 22-year-old right-hander opened the season with the Chicago White Sox after being selected from Boston in the Rule 5 Draft. He made three relief appearances for Chicago, allowing six earned runs over three innings, before being returned to the Red Sox organization in April.
Now, less than five months later, Paez is getting another major league opportunity. This time, he will make his first career start for the organization that signed him as an international free agent in 2021.
Jedixson Paez Gets Unexpected OpportunityPaez has moved quickly through Boston’s system since returning. He posted a 4.41 ERA with 56 strikeouts and only five walks over 49 innings for Double-A Portland. That remarkable strikeout-to-walk ratio helped him earn an August promotion to Worcester.
The right-hander recently provided one of his best performances of the season, limiting his opponent to one earned run and one hit while striking out eight over five innings. He did not issue a walk.
The #RedSox today announced the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/vis1I9eFGm
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 1, 2026Paez is not a traditional overpowering pitching prospect, but his control makes him intriguing. He has consistently avoided free passes while forcing opponents to beat him inside the strike zone.
Tuesday’s assignment will be considerably more difficult.
The Mariners scored eight runs against Boston on Monday and received home runs from Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone. The Red Sox needed four unanswered runs and a Trevor Story walk-off single in the 10th inning to escape with a 9-8 victory.
Paez will be responsible for keeping that dangerous lineup under control one night later.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa Returns For Stretch RunThe return of Kiner-Falefa provides Boston with another useful reinforcement.
The 31-year-old had been sidelined since June because of a stress reaction in his left forearm. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list Aug. 11 but remained on track to return when active rosters expanded from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1. Kiner-Falefa’s versatility should give Tracy more freedom to mix and match defensively. He has extensive major league experience at shortstop, third base and second base and also has played in the outfield.
His activation comes at an important time for a Red Sox roster dealing with several injuries. All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras was placed on the injured list Monday with a left hamstring strain, while Masataka Yoshida and multiple pitchers remain unavailable.
Boston’s latest moves include one anticipated return and one genuine surprise. Kiner-Falefa is back exactly when expected. Paez, meanwhile, has gone from a Rule 5 casualty to a September starter in the middle of a playoff race. That is quite a turnaround, and Tuesday night will reveal whether the Red Sox have uncovered another useful arm for the stretch run.
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