Red Sox ALDS Preview: Five Players Who Can’t Buckle Under Pressure

The Boston Red Sox are favorites in the American League Division Series as they take on the Cleveland Indians.  If the Red Sox are to have success, Chowder and Champions has put together a list of players who can’t afford to buckle under pressure. 

The postseason has arrived for the Boston Red Sox.  Not only is David Ortiz making his final postseason run, but several Red Sox young players will make their playoff debuts.  Those factors alone make the upcoming ALDS matchup against the Cleveland Indians exciting, but there will be some question that will be answered.

Most of those questions surround the pitching staff.  Can the bullpen hold up?  Will David Price, Rick Porcello and Clay Buchholz be the pitchers that fans know they can be?  Furthermore, how will Red Sox manager John Farrell handle the staff?  Will one of his decisions cost the team a game or even the series?

Offensively, how will former Red Sox manager Terry Francona pitch David Ortiz?  If they take the bat out of his hand, which other player will need to step up? All of these questions have factored into my list of the five players who can’t buckle under pressure for the Red Sox to take the series.