Chris Sale. Eduardo Rodriguez. Nathan Eovaldi. Nick Pivetta.
These are the names followers of the Red Sox continue to obsess over heading through this best-of-seven American League Championship Series against the Astros. They are, after all, the starting pitchers who are being asked to set the tone for Alex Cora's club.
But the path for the Red Sox to beat the Astros is paved with a more important conversation: Their ability to score runs.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, the prospects of keeping pace with the Astros and then some with the bats is promising. This is a realty that was spelled out by Adam Ottavino Sunday afternoon.
"I think we like where we're at," the Red Sox reliever said. "I think offensively we feel like we're going to be able to score against them. I think that's going to be the key. If we can beat (José) Urquidy in Game 3, then there won't be too many guys on that pitching staff who haven't given up some runs against us, so I think we're feeling pretty good offensively. Pitching-wise we still have a lot of guys that haven't even thrown in this series, so we feel good about our depth. Plus playing at Fenway is momentum.
"Can't think about closing them out, winning all three. We just have to win Game 3 first and then worry about the rest of them. Being here is a huge boost for us."
He's not wrong.
Urquidy does represent the Astros' best opportunity to hold down what has become the best offense left in the postseason. This is a guy who held the Red Sox to one run over six innings (with 9 strikeouts) back on May 31.
The righty has been fairly consistent throughout 2021, finishing just one month (May) where his ERA landed over 3.94. He certainly represents a solid starting option for Dusty Baker. The problem for Houston, as Ottavino points out, is that he might be the only one.
Framber Valdez certainly hasn't looked close to the guy he was earlier in the season. Luis Garcia also offered an uncomfortable existence for the Astros in Game 2, and might be hurt. Staff ace Lance McCullers is out. Zack Greinke has been awful.
And, yes, the Astros have a solid bullpen. But they don't have the starting pieces the Red Sox can claim to get to those relievers before something like what happened in Game 2 surfaces.
You have to also factor in the offense the Astros will be trying to weave their way through. Statistically, it is far and away the best of the four teams left. They are first in runs, batting average, OPS and have twice as many homers (16) as the team with the second-most round-trippers.
The Astros have an elite lineup, but right now it doesn't match up to what the Red Sox are rolling out.
This could all take a turn. Perhaps Rodriguez succumbs to the best road hitting team in the big leagues, leaving the Red Sox scrambling to keep pace. But, as we sit there, Ottavino spoke for an entire team.
Heading into Monday night, the Red Sox feel pretty good about themselves. And they should.
