Cora may pitch in if Moreland can’t go

The Red Sox are playing hurt, but so are the Astros.

Mitch Moreland took batting practice on the field yesterday, but the Red Sox still aren’t sure if he’ll be healthy enough to be placed on the roster for the American League Championship Series, which begins tomorrow night at Fenway.

“He’s feeling better actually,” manager Alex Cora said. “So we’ve still got time to see where we’re at with him. Hopefully he keeps getting better and he’ll be ready to go (tomorrow).”

If not, the Red Sox would probably replace him on the roster with a pitcher.

Utility man Tzu-Wei Lin is working out with the team, but Cora said the Sox are leaning toward going with 12 pitchers if they make any changes. They went with just 11 pitchers in the Division Series, but that’s just a five-game series that never requires playing three days in a row like the ALCS.

“Probably that will be the route, like I said, we’re going to sit down, we’re going to talk about it, we’re going to see where we’re at,” Cora said. “There are guys (in our bullpen) that can go multiple innings that we didn’t push them to do throughout the season. Joe Kelly, for example. Heath Hembree. So, we’ll see. We’re comfortable with the roster, but obviously it’s a different team, and we’ll make a decision. But, if we make a change, it’s probably going to go that route.”

Left-handers Bobby Poyner and Brian Johnson along with righthander Hector Velazquez would be the likely options to replace Moreland, if he can’t go.

Eduardo Nunez appeared to hurt himself on the final play of the Division Series, when he charged a slow roller and threw to first base for the last out of the game. He then fell to the ground and received a visit from the training staff as the play was under review.

“He’s OK,” Cora said. “I know, I think he slipped on that play but then he was jumping up and down and celebrating so. . . . He’s OK. I saw him today and I’m like, ‘Are you good to go?’ And then he’s like, ‘I’m good papi. I’m good.’”

Correa hurting

The Astros are dealing with a sizable injury, too.

Star shortstop Carlos Correa, who had his worst career season this year, hitting .239 with a .728 OPS, is still dealing with back pain. He missed more than a month in the summer, though he’s been playing through the pain lately.

Correa was 1-for-10 with a home run against Cleveland in the Division Series and is feeling pain every time he swings, he told the Associated Press.

“Not only to find my swing, just to feel comfortable at the plate when I swing,’’ he said. ‘‘Because I know every time I swing and miss it’s going to hurt. So, I try not to swing and miss and then I try to baby my swing and I don’t swing as hard as I usually do or as quick as I usually do. So, it’s definitely been tough.’’

Bullpen depth

Nathan Eovaldi and Rick Porcello will both begin the series in the bullpen, Cora said.

“We’ll see how we attack them the first two games and then we’ll go from there,” he said. “Pretty similar to the Yankees series, I think. . . . Let’s see how the game plays, the first two games and how we’re going to use them. Like I said, we’re all in, everybody knows that Nate and (Eduardo Rodriguez) and Rick, they’ll be coming out of the bullpen probably for Game 1 and 2 and we’ll see what shape we are in after Game 2 and then we can make decisions.”

Verlander by numbers

Justin Verlander enters his Game 1 start with good numbers against the Red Sox. He allowed just three runs in 82⁄3 innings over two appearances in the 2017 ALDS, and allowed two runs in six innings in his only regular-season start this year.

“He’s a great pitcher and he’s had a great season again, but we feel really good being at home,” shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. “Last year we played on the road first. These last two postseasons we were on the road first, and it’s a big difference as opposed to playing at home.

“I’m really looking forward to playing at home (tomorrow) and trying to win it at home. Chris Sale, he’s a set-up guy and a starter. He’ll probably start in Game 1 and set up another game. It’s a good problem to have.”