Workman, Kelly in ’pen
Edge out Hembree, Poyner for last spots
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
There were four pitchers vying for the final two spots in the Red Sox’ ALDS bullpen, but none could match Brandon Workman’s success against the Yankees.
The roster was announced yesterday morning and the bullpen will include both Workman and Joe Kelly for the series, which began last night.
The rest of the roster included no surprises, with the Sox carrying 14 position players (including all three catchers) and 11 pitchers.
Workman and Kelly edged out Heath Hembree and Bobby Poyner to fill a bullpen that will also include Craig Kimbrel, Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, Steven Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez.
Hembree had a stronger overall body of work this season than Workman, but Yankees hitters have batted .250 with a .798 OPS in 57 plate appearances off Hembree. And he’s had a hard time against right-handed hitters, which doesn’t bode well against Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
“He wasn’t keeping the ball in the ballpark (five homers over his last 142⁄3 innings), which is important,” manager Alex Cora said. “We made some adjustments toward the end, we moved him to the other side of the rubber, to make his slider better but we feel like Joe was throwing the ball OK. His fastball-changeup combination is actually better than the fastball-slider. So that’s why we went with him instead of Hembree.”
Off Workman, Yankees hitters have hit just .204 with a .691 OPS in 61 plate appearances.
Kelly’s had a wild season, posting a 4.39 ERA and 1.36 WHIP on the year. Walks are always an issue with him, but he’s allowed just four homers all season, and the Red Sox know they have to keep the ball in the park against the Yankees, who broke the singleseason home run record in 2018.
“For the way he finished the season, that stretch is still 100 mph,” Cora said of Kelly. “When he’s mixing up his pitches and he’s landing his breaking ball, he’s tough to hit. Hopefully we can get the April, May guy and he can dominate for three weeks.”
Bench brigade
Brock Holt, Rafael Devers and Blake Swihart weren’t in the starting lineup last night, but all three are expected to play a big role in the series.
Cora didn’t want to start too many left-handed hitters against lefty J.A. Happ, who allowed just a .171 average and two homers to lefties this year. Devers should be in the lineup for tonight’s Game 2 against Masahiro Tanaka.
“The at-bats from Raffy lately, those are good to see,” Cora said. “And he’s not out of the equation. This guy is going to be an important part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Cora talked to Holt to let him know that even though he might not be starting any games this series, his hot bat (.415, four homers in last 14 games) will be called upon.
“I told him to be ready the whole game, just be ready to hit,” Cora said. “The way he’s swinging the bat … he’s doing an outstanding job coming off the bench. He’s putting good at-bats. We know we can start him at any spot, second, third, the outfield. Most likely the outfield is going to stay the same throughout (the series), but I do feel that there is going to be spots with men in scoring position that we can use him and he doesn’t have to face a lefty.”
Swihart is less of a third catcher and “more of a utility guy,” Cora said.
Pearce at No. 3
J.D. Martinez hit cleanup in Game 1 as Cora decided Steve Pearce, who has six career homers off Happ, should hit third.
“You can see Happ, he’s aggressive with everybody,” Cora said. “Kind of like, with him, there are more changeups and he’s been able to walk. Then if the two guys get on base right away, you have to pitch to him. He’s been successful with (Happ). You look at the at-bats and it’s not just the home runs, it’s the quality of them.”
In the first inning, Pearce walked before Martinez belted a three-run homer. Pearce added an RBI single in the third.
All mapped out
The Yankees will start Luis Severino in Game 3 and lefty CC Sabathia in Game 4, manager Aaron Boone said. …
Prior to Ian Kinsler starting last night, Dustin Pedroia had started at second base for the Red Sox’ last 51 postseason games from 2007-17. The last player other than Pedroia to start at second for the Sox was Tony Graffanino in Game 3 of the 2005 ALDS. …
The Sox have won 12 of the 18 postseason series in which they won Game 1, including 8-of-9 since the start of 2004.