Giolito said on Audacy's "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast that he began his offseason throwing program in mid-October and is fully recovered from the right elbow injury that ended his season in late September.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander came down with right elbow soreness at the end of the regular season and was unavailable to pitch in the playoffs for the Red Sox. However, Giolito noted that "within three days, my elbow felt 100 percent fine again," and "whatever injury there was, it's gone." Giolito is entering free agency and, assuming his medicals do indeed check out, should receive plenty of interest on the open market. The 31-year-old held a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 innings for Boston in 2025.

Giolito (elbow) declined the player side of his $19 mutual option for 2026 on Monday, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

He'll be paid a $1.5 million buyout instead. It's possible the Red Sox will extend Giolito a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, and if that happens, there's a non-zero chance the right-hander accepts it. After missing the 2024 season following internal brace surgery, Giolito had a nice bounce-back 2025 campaign, posting a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 frames. However, his season ended in late September with elbow soreness, and while he was cleared of structural damage, the injury could affect his earnings potential this offseason.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that while Giolito's right elbow injury is not as bad as the team feared it might be, the hurler is unlikely to be available at any point during the postseason, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Giolito seems to have been cleared of any structural damage after a visit with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, but the right-hander needs extended rest, so he's done for the season even if the Red Sox make a deep postseason run. It's poor timing for the Red Sox and also Giolito, who will enter free agency this winter. Giolito had a nice bounce-back 2025 campaign, posting a 3.41 ERA and 121:56 K:BB over 145 frames, but he'll head into the free-agent market with health questions.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Giolito is dealing with a right elbow injury and will not be on the team's American League Wild Card Series roster against the Yankees, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

If healthy, Giolito would have started a potential Game 3. Instead, he is headed to visit with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, who performed the right-hander's March 2024 internal brace surgery. More clarity on Giolito's possible availability for later playoff rounds could be available following that exam. Connelly Early would now seem to be the favorite to start a potential Game 3 against the Yankees, though Cora declined Monday to divulge who would pitch that contest.

Giolito came away with a no-decision Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander threw 61 of 98 pitches for strikes as he once again had trouble avoiding free passes. Over his last five starts, Giolito has a 22:18 K:BB in 25.2 innings, but he's given up more than two earned runs just once during that stretch, posting a 3.16 ERA despite a 1.60 WHIP. He currently lines up to take the mound on the final day of the regular season, at home against a Tigers team that has collapsed down the stretch, but with the Red Sox also fighting to lock up a wild-card spot, it's not clear if they will actually risk Giolito's wildness if a playoff berth is on the line.

Giolito didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's win against the Athletics, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Giolito worked around constant traffic early, stranding multiple runners to limit the damage through four frames, but it caught up to him in the fifth. After a single and two walks loaded the bases, the right-hander was lifted, and all three inherited runners came around to score. The rough outing snapped a strong stretch in which he had posted a 1.46 ERA and 22:10 K:BB across 24.2 innings over his previous four starts. Giolito is slated to take the mound against the Blue Jays next, a tough assignment given Toronto leads MLB in runs scored in the back half of the season.

Giolito (10-4) took the loss Friday versus the Yankees after giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out six batters across 5.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Giolito put the Red Sox in an early hole by giving up a home run to Aaron Judge in the first inning, and an RBI single from Cody Bellinger in the third was all New York needed to remain in front for the rest of the game. Giolito was pulled one out before he could deliver his third quality start in his last four appearances. Still, he will take a season-best 3.31 ERA into his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come against the Athletics on Wednesday.

Giolito (10-3) allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out two over five innings to take the loss versus the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Giolito threw just 53 of 94 pitches for strikes. He struggled in the second inning after an error allowed the Diamondbacks to put together a three-run rally, and that was enough to sink the Red Sox in what ended up being a 5-1 contest. Prior to Saturday, Giolito had allowed just five runs over his previous four starts, covering 25 innings in that span. While he's had a few shaky outings this season, this was just his third loss and his first since July 18 versus the Cubs. The 31-year-old has maintained a 3.38 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 107:46 K:BB through 130.1 innings over 23 starts. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Yankees.

Giolito (10-2) earned the win Sunday over the Pirates, allowing a run on three hits and five walks over six innings. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

While Giolito's five walks were the second-most he's issued in a start this season, the right-hander was able to minimize the damage en route to his 10th victory. Giolito has gone 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in his last seven outings (43.2 innings), lowering his ERA to 3.38 on the season with a 1.23 WHIP and 105:43 K:BB across 22 starts (125.1 innings). He's currently slated to face the Diamondbacks on the road his next time out.

Giolito (9-2) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing four hits and a walk over eight scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory over the Orioles. He struck out eight.

EDGE Analysis

Baltimore didn't get a runner past second base as Giolito racked up 32 called or swinging strikes among his 104 pitches (69 total strikes). The right-hander has gone 3-0 with four quality starts in his last six trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's compiled a 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 27:14 K:BB over 37.2 innings. Giolito will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Pirates.