Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Wednesday that Early (elbow) is projected to return from the 15-day injured list in the final week of August, Byron Kerr of MLB.com reports.
After acquiring Early from the Red Sox over the weekend, the Nationals seem to be preparing for a slow buildup for the left-hander as he works his way back from elbow inflammation. He's slated to throw a two-inning simulated bullpen session within the next day or two before likely throwing a simulated game Monday in Washington, D.C. or on the road in Philadelphia. After that, Early is expected to report to an affiliate to begin a rehab assignment, and he looks like he'll need around three starts in the minors before making his Nationals debut by the end of August.
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Nationals' Connelly Early: Aiming for Aug. 3 rehab start
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President of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Sunday that the Nationals are targeting Aug. 3 for the start of Early's (elbow) rehab assignment, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Early hasn't pitched since June 30 due to left elbow inflammation, but the Nationals didn't view the injury as enough of a concern to deter them from acquiring the 24-year-old pitcher from the Red Sox on Sunday in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead. The southpaw completed a one-inning simulated bullpen session Friday and is expected to throw a more extended session during the upcoming week before he heads out on a rehab assignment. Early could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list to make his Nationals debut at some point during the second week of August.
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Nationals' Connelly Early: Dealt to Washington for Mead
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The Nationals acquired Early (elbow) from the Red Sox on Saturday in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Early is currently on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation, but he's been throwing for the past week and is expected to head out on a rehab assignment in the near future. Boston had a surplus of starting pitchers and chose to ship out Early to address the team's need for added thump to the lineup. In the 24-year-old Early, the Nationals get a young arm who can occupy a spot in the rotation for years to come. Across 21 career MLB regular-season starts, Early has a 3.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 122:38 K:BB spanning 111 innings.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Adds bullpen session to rehab
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Early (elbow) threw an inning in a bullpen session Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Early, who had played catch out to 120 feet earlier in the week, added a bullpen session to his rehab progression. The left-hander also added pitchers' fielding practice to his list of activities. The next steps for Early will be a two-inning session in the bullpen followed by live batting practice. A short rehab assignment is anticipated.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Ups flat-ground distance to 120 feet
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Early (elbow) threw off flat ground out to 120 feet Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Early had been playing catch out to 90 feet last week, so the left-hander has taken another step forward in his throwing program, albeit a marginal one. The southpaw remains without an official timeline to return from the 15-day injured list, after the Red Sox deactivated him July 1 due to left elbow inflammation.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Begins throwing program
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Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Thursday that Early (elbow) started a throwing program earlier this week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
After a brief shutdown following his placement on the injured list July 1 due to left elbow inflammation, Early has begun ramping up. The left-hander will throw off flat ground out to 75 feet Friday before increasing his distance to 90 feet Saturday. Early will likely require a rehab assignment before he eventually makes his return from the 15-day IL.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Fans nine in seventh victory
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Early (7-5) earned the win over the Yankees on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out nine batters over six innings.
The southpaw got into trouble early, giving up a run on three hits in the first inning. However, he settled down from there, yielding just one more run on a Jose Caballero solo homer in the fourth. Early racked up an impressive 17 whiffs and set a season-high mark with nine punchouts. He was also able to give the Red Sox some length, going six frames for a second straight start after failing to do so across his first three outings in June. Early has had occasional rough appearances but has held his own so far during his first full big-league season, posting a 3.59 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 88:32 K:BB through 87.2 frames.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Wild but steady in win
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Early (6-5) allowed one run on two hits, two walks and three hit batsmen while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win over the Mariners on Saturday.
Early threw just 57 of 98 pitches for strikes in this outing, hitting three batters after he had plunked six all season entering the day. He had gone three starts without completing six frames to begin June, losing all of those games while allowing 12 runs over 14.2 innings. Early now has a 3.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 79:31 K:BB through 81.2 innings over 15 starts this season. The left-hander is projected to make his next start at home versus the Yankees.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Ineffective in fifth loss
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Early (5-5) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on 11 hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Rangers. He struck out three.
After allowing a leadoff long ball to Wyatt Langford, Early struggled to settle in, surrendering a three-run homer to Kyle Higashioka in the second inning and a two-run double to Brandon Nimmo in the fourth frame. He's allowed five home runs over the last three starts and 14 overall across 75.2 innings. It marked a season-worst outing for the southpaw in both hits and runs allowed, as his previous highs were six hits and five runs. Owning a 3.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 72:29 K:BB across 75.2 innings (14 starts), Early will look to get back on track next time out, tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Mariners.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Fans six in fifth loss
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Early (3-5) took the loss Tuesday as the Red Sox fell 4-2 to the Orioles, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.
The 24-year-old southpaw fanned at least five batters for a fifth straight start, but homers by Coby Mayo in the second inning and Pete Alonso in the third saddled Early with the loss. It's the third time in his last four starts that Early has served up multiple long balls, but he's done a good job of limiting the damage against him otherwise, posting a 3.42 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 24:5 K:BB in 23.2 innings over that stretch. He'll try to keep the ball in the yard in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend against the Yankees.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Earns fourth win Wednesday
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Early (4-2) earned the win Wednesday against the Royals, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts across 6.1 innings.
Early made only two mistakes Wednesday: serving up a solo homer to Salvador Perez in the first innings while Elias Diaz later took the left-hander deep for a two-run shot in the fifth. Early was still able to log a quality start, his fourth in his last seven outings, and he's allowed more than three runs in just one of 10 starts to begin 2026. After struggling with walks earlier in the year, Early has issued one or no free passes in three straight outings. The rookie owns a 3.33 ERA and 50:19 K:BB across 54 innings, though his xERA (4.72) suggests some regression could be in store. Home runs have also been an issue, as he's now surrendered nine on the season and seven over his last five starts.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Grabs second win
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Early (2-1) earned the win Sunday over the Orioles, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out four.
Early held the Orioles scoreless through his first four frames, ultimately completing a season-high 6.2 innings en route to his second win and quality start this season. The 24-year-old Early has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in five of his six outings. His ERA sits at 2.84 with a 1.20 WHIP and 28:14 K:BB over 31.2 innings. Early is currently scheduled to face the Astros at home his next time out.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Saddled with loss Tuesday
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Early (1-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts across 5.1 innings.
Early had success against the non-Giancarlo Stanton members of the New York lineup, but Stanton tagged Early for a solo homer to lead off the second inning before smacking a two-run double in the sixth. It was the extent of the damage against Early, who has looked good through five starts to begin the season. The left-hander owns a 2.88 ERA and 24:13 K:BB across 25 innings. He's expected to make his next start Sunday on the road against the Orioles.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Sharp in first win of 2026
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Early (1-0) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings in a 9-5 victory over the Twins. He struck out five.
The young southpaw delivered his first quality start of the season along with his first win, and the only blemish on his line was a first-inning solo shot by Austin Martin. Early tossed 52 of his 85 pitches for strikes, and he has yet to give up more than two runs in an outing in 2026. He'll take a 2.29 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB through 19.2 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Yankees.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Goes 4.1 innings in no-decision
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Early didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts across 4.1 innings.
Early allowed the first three batters to reach in the bottom of the second inning but was able to escape with just one run allowed on a Victor Scott sacrifice fly. Early battled command issues most of the night but was able to work around it and got into the fifth inning before exiting with a 2-1 lead. Zack Kelly came on in relief and allowed the first three batters he faced to reach base, and St. Louis took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning. Through three starts, Early owns a 2.63 ERA and 15:8 K:BB across 13.2 innings. He lines up to face the Twins on the road Wednesday.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Goes four innings Saturday
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Early did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Padres, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks with four strikeouts across four innings.
Early labored through four innings, needing 88 pitches to do so, and struggled with his command. San Diego's sputtering offense was unable to do much with the baserunners, however, pushing across just two runs against Early. Through two starts, the left-hander owns a 2.89 ERA and 10:6 K:BB across 9.1 innings, and he's also thrown a pair of wild pitches. Early's next start will likely come next weekend in St. Louis.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Wins spot in Boston rotation
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Early will open the season in the Boston rotation, garnering his first start Sunday in Cincinnati, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Johan Oviedo also made the Opening Day roster but will open the season in the bullpen as a possible piggyback option. The Red Sox plan to give Early at least a couple turns in the rotation before reassessing their options. Early was stellar in Grapefruit League play, posting a 1.59 ERA and 16:5 K:BB over 17 innings, which came after he held a 2.33 ERA and 29:4 K:BB across 19.1 regular-season frames down the stretch last year. He will have to pitch well to retain a rotation spot over the long haul, but the news is a big boost to Early's fantasy prospects.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Makes Opening Day roster
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Early has made the Red Sox's Opening Day roster, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Early entered spring training competing with Payton Tolle and Johan Oviedo for the fifth spot in the Red Sox's rotation. Per Cotillo, the Red Sox will carry both Early and Oviedo on the 26-man roster (with Tolle starting the season with Triple-A Worcester) in an effort to provide length early in the season as both Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello continue to build up after pitching in the World Baseball Classic. Garrett Crochet will serve as Boston's Opening Day starter against Cincinnati while Sonny Gray takes the mound Saturday. With Suarez expected to pitch Monday against Houston and Bello to go Tuesday, there's a chance that Early gets his first start of the season as early as Sunday against the Reds. Early put together a strong spring training, appearing in five Grapefruit League games (four starts) and posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB across 17 innings.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Another strong showing
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Early allowed one hit and two walks while striking out seven over five scoreless innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Yankees.
The three-way competition for the fifth starter's job rages on, and Early submitted another piece of evidence that he's ready for the job. The left-hander has allowed four runs (three earned) over 17 innings (1.59 ERA) with five walks and 16 strikeouts in the Cactus League. The other contenders have been equally effective. Payton Tolle threw four scoreless innings of relief Tuesday, lowering his spring ERA to 2.53, while Johan Oviedo, perhaps the frontrunner, has matched Early's 1.59 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 9.2 innings. All three pitchers have minor-league options.
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Red Sox's Connelly Early: Strikes out seven in loss
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Early (1-2) took the loss Saturday against the Tigers, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk across five innings. He struck out seven.
Early held the Tigers scoreless through four innings before ultimately allowing two runs on Jahmai Jones' two-out single with the bases loaded, which proved to be enough to stick the rookie with the loss in a 2-1 Red Sox defeat. While Early's dropped back-to-back starts to finish the season, the left-hander's impressed overall in his first four big-league outings. He'll finish the year with a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 29:4 K:BB across 19.1 innings.
