Boston Red Sox: Why Game 3 is a must-win situation

The Boston Red Sox need to win Game 3 of the ALDS if they want to keep their season alive.

It’s hard not be frustrated when it seems like the same narrative seems to be occurring every single year. The Boston Red Sox, a team that one 108 games in 2018 and squeaked out the one-seed, have found themselves in another tough situation in the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.

After unconvincingly winning Game 1, where the bullpen almost gave Sox fans a heart attack, Game 2 featured another terrible postseason outing from David Price in a 6-2 Boston loss. Not to mention it was against a Yankees squad that’s always caused Price problems, especially during the regular season.

The lefty could not make it out of the second inning on Saturday night, giving up three earned runs without recording a strikeout. He surrounded two home runs, one by Aaron Judge in the first, and then one by Gary Sanchez in the second (which was almost 500 feet apparently).

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Price is now 2-9 in his postseason career, and has an ERA of 5.28 according to MLB.com. Even more troubling, in four games started against New York in 2018, Baseball-Reference shows the southpaw having a 10.34 ERA (not including Game 2), giving up 18 earned runs as well as nine homers! Just think about that, nine home runs in only 15 innings against one squad. Add in his outing from Saturday, and that’s 11 homers in 16 and two-thirds innings pitched. That averages out to more than a homer an inning.

The outlook for Game 3

Now heading to New York, the Boston Red Sox must rely on Nathan Eovaldi, who’s had a lot more success against the Bronx Bombers (1.93 ERA in 2018 with 18 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched). The problem is Eovladi’s never been a part of a high-stakes game like this, and is going up against All-Star Luis Severino.

While the ace wasn’t as dominant for a good portion of the summer in 2018 (and even the playoffs in 2017), he still looked fantastic against the Oakland Athletics in the wild card game, pitching four innings, acquiring seven strikeouts, and giving up only two hits.

Severino in general has looked a lot better his last seven games, and seems to be getting hot at the right time. Add that in with a great performance by Masahiro Tanaka on Saturday, and this may end up being a similar situation from last year for Aaron Boone’s squad. They have all of their pieces back from injury, and definitely look a lot sharper than they did when Boston swept them in four games back in July.

If Boston loses this game, then they have to save their season with a win at the Bronx. Most likely, they would need Chris Sale to pitch on short rest, which would not be ideal considering his recent injury problems. A victory on Monday night would essentially give Alex Cora some cushion, and the ability to possibly throw in Rick Porcello for Game 4.

Another issue so far has been Mookie Betts, who only has one hit in his seven at-bats. To me, there’s no excuse for another postseason where the soon-to-be MVP goes absent. He’s been in three straight Octobers now. If he doesn’t set the tone early like JD Martinez did in Game 1, then this series could end with Boston on the wrong side of the spectrum again.

The infamous bullpen looked a tad more competent on Saturday, but Eduard Rodriguez still surrendered a three-run homer to Sanchez (which was his second of the night). Ironically, Sanchez was injured throughout that four-game sweep from earlier in the year.

In all honesty, the Sox still have a chance even if they lose Monday. Sale would take the mound for Game 4, and would most likely help force a Game 5 at home back in Fenway. However, being down 2-1 in one of the more hostile ballparks is not an ideal position to be in. Hopefully, Eovaldi can enter Boston Red Sox legend status, and pitch the game of his life.