J.D.’s status up in air
Tweaked ankle tripping over second base Sunday
If the 2021 Red Sox live to see another day after tonight, they may have to get there without one of their best hitters.
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
J.D. Martinez is uncertain to play in tonight’s do-or-die Wild Card game against the Yankees after he suffered a left ankle sprain in Sunday’s win over the Nationals. Martinez, who was playing right field, was jogging out to play defense in the fifth inning when he accidentally stumbled over second base on his way to the outfield. He stayed to finish the inning, but was taken out in the sixth.
As of Monday night, the Red Sox were still in a waiting period on their designated hitter’s status.
“He’s getting treatment,” manager Alex Cora said. “We’ll probably have to make a decision (Tuesday) morning roster-wise, of course, and let’s see how he reacts to treatment and everything that they are doing to him in there. We don’t know yet.”
If Martinez can’t go, it would obviously be a blow to the Red Sox’ lineup as they go up against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.
“That just plain-up sucks,” Kyle Schwarber said. “Freak injury there. And hoping the best that he’s able to go out there and play. He’s been a staple here for how long now and been a staple in this game, a huge bat in this game.
“Really hoping that it turns out well for him and that he can strap it up (Tuesday), and if he can’t, you know, we’ve been in a spot like this before where we’ve just got to, next man up. But really hoping that it works out for him.”
Plawecki gets the call
With Nathan Eovaldi on the mound tonight, Cora will start backup catcher Kevin Plawecki instead of Christian Vazquez.
Eovaldi’s numbers have been much better with Plawecki as his catcher this season, with a 3.28 ERA in 96 innings together. Eovaldi has a 4.77 ERA in 66 innings with Vazquez as his catcher. Cora also likes Plawecki’s bat in the lineup.
“Those two have done an amazing job together,” Cora said of Eovaldi and Plawecki. “Nothing against Christian, but they have been good. I think that’s just the answer. Offensively, I think both have done a good job lately. Kevin can catch up with the fastball, too. We know that.
“But this is more about, throughout the season, those two — he caught him 17 times if I’m not mistaken, right — and they did a good job. But Christian will be ready.”
The Red Sox had not yet finalized their roster for the Wild Card game. But with Jose Iglesias ineligible to be on the postseason roster because he was signed in early September, Cora said Christian Arroyo will likely start at second base. Arroyo has started just one game since Aug. 26, right before he tested positive for COVID-19 and missed nearly a month.
Cora said there’s “a good chance” that Jarren Duran will be on the roster. The rookie’s speed could be a factor off the bench.
Betts most popular again
For the second consecutive year, Mookie Betts had MLB’s top-selling jersey while the Red Sox didn’t have anybody in the top 20.
The league and players announced Monday that Betts’ jersey was once again a hot item. He had been the Red Sox’ only player in the top 20 during his last year in Boston in 2019. The only other Sox player to be in the top 20 in the last three years is Andrew Benintendi, whose jersey was the 16th-most popular in 2018…
DS times announced
MLB announced game times for the Division Series. If the Red Sox advance to play the Rays, Game 1 will be Thursday at 8:07 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, Game 2 on Friday at 7:02 p.m on FS1 and Game 3 on Sunday at 4:07 p.m. on MLB Network.
Last game with the Red Sox for some?
Schwarber is one of many who could be playing his last game in a Red Sox uniform on Tuesday night. The pending free agent said he’s enjoyed playing for Cora because “he really cares about his players and the way the game is being played.” The Sox could use him again next year if Martinez decides to opt out. They’ll also lose Eduardo Rodriguez, Adam Ottavino, Hunter Renfroe, Iglesias and Hansel Robles, among others, to free agency.
Limping in
Cora acknowledged the Red Sox are not entering the postseason playing their best baseball. They went 3-3 against the last-place Orioles and Nationals after getting swept by the Yankees during their final home series.
“At the end, we are not going to change who we are in one night,” he said. “But one thing we can do is win a game just like we did 91 times in 162 games — sorry, 92.”