4 BOSTON RED SOX

O/U WINS: 80.5

KEY PLAYER: Alex Cora.

The Red Sox manager returns after a year suspension for his involvement as the bench coach in the Astros’ signstealing saga. We are going to see if players who thrived under him and struggled last year, such as Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez, return to being standouts under Cora’s leadership.

PLAYER WHO’LL NEED

TO STEP UP: Eduardo Rodriguez. The lefty missed all of last year after contracting COVID-19 and then myocarditis as a result. He was healthy in spring training and the Red Sox’s best path to contention is him pitching like an ace and being joined around July by Chris Sale, who missed last season following Tommy John surgery. But this also is

Rodriguez’s walk year, so he becomes an intriguing trade chip if Boston is out of it in July. NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Jeter Downs. Fenway awaits a prospect named for the Yankees great. Downs, an infielder, was a key part of the trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers. BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: What is their mindset? The Red Sox are trying to be better in Chaim Bloom’s second season running baseball operations. But they still appear to be more playing the long game, so do Rodriguez, Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi and others become trade chips? HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: The Red Sox have a puncher’s chance because their top line of talent is still championship-special, but the pitching depth is still a problem.

PROJECTED LINEUP 2B Enrique Hernandez CF Alex Verdugo

DH J.D. Martinez SS Xander Bogaerts 3B Rafael Devers RF Hunter Renfroe C Christian Vazquez LF Franchy Cordero 1B Bobby Dalbec ROTATION

RHP Nathan Eovaldi RHP Garrett Richards LHPMartinPerez RHP Nick Pivetta LHP Eduardo Rodriguez