Lucas Giolito DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (hamstring) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab start on Wednesday for the Triple-A Worcester WooSox, according to MassLive's Christopher Smith. In what will be his first rehab start since suffering a hamstring strain in spring training, Giolito is expected to throw three innings. The 30-year-old veteran will need at least two more rehab starts before that before the Red Sox consider activating him from the 15-day injured list, so in a best-case scenario, Giolito might be looking at making his debut with Boston at the end of April. When both Giolito and Brayan Bello (shoulder) are able to return to the starting rotation, Richard Fitts and Sean Newcomb will likely be bumped to the minors or the bullpen. Giolito had two straight down seasons in 2022 and 2023 before having elbow surgery last year and missing all of the 2024 campaign.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester next week. The veteran right-hander is working his way back from a left hamstring strain that he suffered earlier in camp. The expectation is that Giolito will need a few rehab starts before he's ready to rejoin the Red Sox rotation. It's unclear what kind of fantasy value Giolito is going to offer considering he hasn't pitched since 2023. During that season, Giolito posted a 4.88 ERA with a league-leading 41 home runs allowed. The absence of Giolito should mean that Richard Fitts gets a longer look in the rotation to begin the season.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, according to manager Alex Cora. "We're going to be tested right away," Cora said. Giolito was pulled from his Grapefruit League start on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies with what turned out to be a low-grade left-hamstring strain. It's not a serious injury, but it means the BoSox will now open the year without Giolito, Brayan Bello (shoulder) or Kutter Crawford (knee) in their rotation. With that trio of starting-pitcher injuries, both Quinn Priester and Richard Fitts appear likely to open the year in Boston's rotation. Giolito's fantasy value continues to drop after he missed all of the 2024 campaign due to a torn right UCL that required an internal-brace procedure. The good news is his new injury isn't arm-related, but he should still be avoided in 12-team mixed leagues.