With a 90-40 record, it’s pretty safe to say the Boston Red Sox will be in the 2018 postseason. What will their roster look like?
It’s pretty safe to say the Boston Red Sox will make it to the postseason.
Through 130 games, the Red Sox are 90-40 and are 8.0 games above the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Yankees are 8.5 games ahead of the Mariners for the second wild-card spot, so the Red Sox are 16.5 games ahead of the Mariners.
With all this in mind, it’s time to start taking a look at what the Red Sox postseason roster could look like. It will obviously look much different if the Red Sox have to play in the Wild Card game, but we’ll assume they close out the division and play in the ALDS.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
This would be Alex Cora’s first time managing in the postseason. The former Red Sox player served as the bench coach for the Houston Astros last season, who went on to beat the Red Sox in the ALDS and win the World Series.
Let’s take a look at what Cora’s roster could look like. Lots of things could happen before the start of the postseason, but this will assume everybody except for Dustin Pedroia and Carson Smith are healthy, including Chris Sale.
Starting Pitchers: Chris Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello
Most teams only use three starting pitchers in the postseason, especially in the ALDS. There might be a time where the team needs a fourth starter, but for the most part, teams will roll with three guys.
These three have been the most consistent starting pitchers for the Red Sox all season long.
Sale has been having an insane season. The left-hander is currently 12-4 with a 1.97 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP and has 219 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched.
Sale struggled in the postseason last season. In the game he started, Sale gave up seven runs over five innings and gave up two runs over 4.2 innings in the game he came out of the bullpen.
He will certainly be looking to have more success this year.
David Price has been terrific recently. Since the all-star break, the former Cy Young winner is 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA in six starts.
Price has struggled in the postseason his entire career, however. In his career, the southpaw is 2-8 with a 5.03 ERA. Last season with the Red Sox, however, Price did not give up a run and allowed just seven baserunners in 6.2 innings of work.
He came out of the bullpen in both those games. Price will be looking for more of the same this season as a starter.
Rick Porcello has been a solid option all season. The right-hander is 15-6 with a 4.14 ERA. Eduardo Rodriguez could be the one taking this spot, as he is 11-3 with a 3.44 ERA, but E-Rod has never started a postseason game. He appeared in just one game last postseason and allowed the only two men he faced to reach base. Nathan Eovaldi could be in contention as well.
It should be a bit concerning for Red Sox that their starting staff has not been very good in the postseason. However, these three have been reliable for the Red Sox all season long, and nothing should change in the postseason.
Relief Pitchers: Eduardo Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Brandon Workman, Tyler Thornburg, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree, Craig Kimbrel
Here’s where it gets tricky.
Tyler Thornburg is on the bubble. He made it here over Hector Velazquez, Steven Wright, Brian Johnson, and Drew Pomeranz. I decided to carry an extra position player on the roster, but if Cora decides to go with 13 pitchers, Brock Holt and Rafael Devers will be on the bubble. Cora has carried 13 position players most of the season so I assume he’d do the same in the playoffs.
Rodriguez and Eovaldi could be in play for a potential start, but they’ll probably only appear in a game if a game goes into extra innings or if the starting pitcher struggles.
The Boston Red Sox bullpen has been pretty good this season. Brandon Workman, Thornburg, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes, and Heath Hembree have been pretty reliable all season long. The Red Sox bullpen ERA is 3.30, fourth best in the AL.
The biggest issue with the Red Sox bullpen is that they do not have a go-to eighth-inning guy to set-up Craig Kimbrel. Many different pitchers have gotten the opportunity but there has not been one guy to excel. If Brasier continues to pitch as good as he has, he could be the main set-up guy. Brasier currently has a 0.95 ERA in 19 innings.
Also, you might see a common trend in all of the Red Sox relief pitchers. They are all right-handed, other than Rodriguez. This could help Pomeranz’s or Johnson’s chance of making the roster, but they have not been reliable enough. If a team pinch-hits a power hitting left-handed bat off the bench in the late innings, the Red Sox could be in trouble
Catchers/Infielders: Sandy Leon, Blake Swihart, Mitch Moreland, Steve Pearce, Ian Kinsler, Brock Holt, Eduardo Nunez, Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts
The infield has stayed the same all season long. Since the Ian Kinsler trade, these have been the main guys when healthy.
The catcher spot will be a competition once Christian Vazquez gets healthy. Sandy Leon should be on the roster. The Red Sox have had success when he has started, and he is a great game-caller. He should be the guy who gets most of the starts.
More from Boston Red Sox
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
- Mookie Betts Has Humble Outlook on Returning to Fenway
- Alex Cora Reveals What He Said to Cause NSFW Response from Justin Verlander
Blake Swihart has been solid since receiving more playing time. His versatility is another reason why he should make it over Vazquez, as he has also played first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field this season. He is hitting .262 since the all-star break.
Second base and shortstop will likely be Kinsler and Xander Bogaerts for the most part. Both have been playing well enough to secure every-day starts at those positions.
Playing time at first base and third base will likely be split. Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce will likely split time at first. Pearce started off on a tear but has cooled down recently. It will likely be Moreland against right-handers and Pearce against left-handers.
At third, Rafael Devers should be the main guy. The young third baseman has power and adds versatility to the lineup as a left-hander. Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt will get looks as well but have not been performing well at the plate. Both will be valuable pieces on the roster due to their versatility but Devers should get most of the time at third.
Outfielders: Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez
This won’t change. If healthy, Andrew Benintendi will be in left, JBJ in center field, and Mookie Betts will be in right field for every game. J.D. Martinez will be the DH.
The outfield has been the same the past two seasons and there has been no reason to change anything. Benintendi has been a superb player in left-field both with the bat and his glove. He is hitting .296 on the season with 15 homers and 74 RBIs.
Bradley hasn’t been great offensively, but defensively he is phenomenal. Bradley is hitting. 223 with 11 homers and 48 RBIs on the season. If he is due to bat in a key situation late in a game, he could definitely be pinch-hit for, but he will likely be the every-day starter.
Betts and Martinez are both MVP contenders. They have been terrific all season long and will be the biggest threats in the Red Sox lineup. It is unlikely Martinez will play in the field at all in the postseason.
Pearce, Holt, and Swihart could also see time in the outfield, but for the most part, Benintendi, Bradley, and Betts will be the outfield for the Boston Red Sox.