Alex Cora was quick to point out that this one game, winner-moves-on, Wild Card showdown with the Yankees Tuesday night is going to look a little different.
This isn’t about a season, or even a best-of-five postseason sprint.
The purpose for this one day is to find the best combination of 26 player to piece together a win.
“This is different,” Cora explained. “This is one game and there's going to be guys that we are not going to have on the roster that obviously they deserve to be there. But we don't need a one-game, quote/unquote, series. It's very difficult. Obviously you go through the game mentally. I've been thinking about this game and moves and all that stuff for the last 24 hours, and we don't know the roster.
“I know they have got a few situations over there, too. So it's very hard to do. But at the end, I think the 26 guys that they are going to pick and the 26 guys we are going to pick, they are going to be the right ones and it should be fun tomorrow.”
The Red Sox manager did reveal a few routes he is ready to take when it comes to the Wild Card plan.
- Kevin Plawecki will get the start at catcher, with Nathan Eovaldi starting. The primary reason for the move stems from Eovaldi’s success with Plawecki behind the plate, totaling a 3.28 ERA and .644 OPS against in 17 starts compared to the 13 appearances throwing to Christian Vazquez (4.77/.766).
“Those two have done an amazing job together,” Cora said. “Nothing against Christian, but they have been good. I think that's just the answer. You know, offensively, I think both have done a good job lately. You know, Kevin can catch up with the fastball, too. We know that.
“But this is more about, you know, throughout the season, those two -- he caught him 17 times if I'm not mistaken, right -- and they did a good job. But Christian will be ready.”
- At second base will be Christian Arroyo, who has managed just one start since returning from the COVID injured list. (Jose Iglesias is not eligible for the postseason because he wasn’t in the Red Sox’ organization prior to Sept. 1.) Cora is choosing to prioritize his best defensive outfield, putting Kiké Hernandez in center field.
- Cora noted that Jarren Duran will likely be on the roster despite not playing in a major league game since Sept. 1. This move is obviously to use the rookie for his speed if such a need on the bases arises.
- While Chris Sale won’t likely be on the roster, although both Nick Pivetta and Eduardo Rodriguez have good chances of being options out of the Red Sox bullpen.
“There's a really good chance that Nick will be on the roster. There's a chance that Eddie will be, too,” Cora said. “I think, you know, as far as like stamina and where they are at right now physically, they should be okay over the week. But obviously tomorrow is the biggest day.
“So I think having them on the roster makes sense. Just be ready for that one and then if you have to use the bullpen for one day in Tampa, it means that something good happened (Tuesday).”
- That status of J.D. Martinez - who left Sunday’s game with a sprained left ankle after tripping over the second base bag while running out to his position - is still up in the air.
“He's getting treatment,” Cora said. “We'll probably have to make a decision tomorrow morning roster-wise, of course, and let's see how he reacts to treatment and everything that they are doing to him in there. We don't know yet.”
- As for wild cards in the Wild Card, other than Duran there is the possibility of Danny Santana re-emerging. The veteran infielder is 9-for-14 against Yankees starter Gerrit Cole. Such a move might be a reach considering his last appearance for the Sox came on Sept. 10, but these are the types of outside-the-box options that this game will surface.