Giolito set for Red Sox debut, 1st start since 2023

The Boston Red Sox are expected to start right-hander Lucas Giolito against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

"He's healthy and he's ready," manager Alex Cora told MassLive's Christoper Smith. "So the plan is for him to be with us in Toronto. Most likely Game 2."

It will be Giolito's first start since October 1, 2023 and will mark his debut with the Red Sox, who signed him to a two-year, $38.5-million contract in December 2023.

The 30-year-old missed all of 2024 after undergoing an internal brace procedure to correct an issue with his pitching elbow. He entered spring training in line to be a member of Boston's rotation but was put on the injured list with a hamstring strain in March.

Giolito has had an up-and-down career in the majors. He was an AL Cy Young contender in three consecutive years from 2019-2021 while pitching for the Chicago White Sox before falling off in 2022 and 2023.

The Red Sox rotation, which sits 16th in the majors with a 3.92 ERA, is starting to solidify after it also saw the return of Brayan Bello on Tuesday.

Giolito and Bello join a rotation that consists of Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Walker Buehler, and Sean Newcomb.