The Boston Red Sox were dealt a blow before opening their best-of-three American League wild-card series, announcing on Monday that right-hander Lucas Giolito has an elbow issue that will keep him out against the New York Yankees.

Expected to follow ace Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello if the series extends to Game 3, Giolito will see a specialist to have his elbow examined, Boston manager Alex Cora told reporters on Monday. The Red Sox play the Yankees in Game 1 on Tuesday in New York.

The 31-year-old Giolito returned this season after missing the 2024 campaign following right UCL surgery that March. He signed a two-year, $38.5 million deal with Boston before the 2024 season. The nine-year veteran had a $14 million club option that became a $19 mutual option once he eclipsed the 140-innings mark this season.

Over 26 starts in 2025, he went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 121 strikeouts and 56 walks in 145 innings.

A first-round pick (No. 16 overall) of the Washington Nationals in the 2012 MLB Draft, Giolito is 71-66 in 206 games (204 starts) with a 4.30 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 1,198 strikeouts and 441 walks in 1,158 2/3 innings. After one season with Washington (2016), he also has played for the Chicago White Sox (2017-23) the Los Angeles Angels (2023) and the Cleveland Guardians (2023). He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2019.

Cora did not name a starter for a potential Game 3, but rookie Connelly Early -- Boston's No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- could be a candidate. Since debuting on Sept. 9, the left-hander is 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 19 1/3 innings, with 29 strikeouts and four walks in four starts.