The Boston Red Sox reportedly are calling up their top pitching prospect, Payton Tolle, to start on Friday against a young player whose early career they would like to see him emulate.

The 22-year-old left-hander will go up against Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes in the opener of a three-game series in Boston.

Tolle has pitched for three Boston farm teams this year, going 3-5 with a 3.04 ERA in 20 games (18 starts). He has 133 strikeouts and 23 walks in 91 2/3 innings. His past three starts were for Triple-A Worcester, and he went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA, 17 strikeouts and two walks in 15 innings.

The Red Sox selected Tolle in the second round of the 2024 draft out of TCU.

Skenes (8-9, 2.07 ERA) recorded his ninth scoreless start of the season and second in four outings on Sunday, st

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