RedSox not saying where top-RBI man Martinez will play
Red Sox would have to find spot for DH as series shifts to NL ballpark
LOS ANGELES » Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora says no decision has been made on whether slugger J.D. Martinez will start tonight’s Game 3 of the World Series.
But Cora said Thursday that whatever lineup he uses, it will not feature star right fielder Mookie Betts at second base.
Martinez is Boston’s main designated hitter. The DH role will not be used today when the Red Sox take their 2-0 lead into Dodger Stadium to face Los Angeles.
Martinez rolled his right ankle on a double in Game 1. He stayed in, then delivered a key hit Wednesday night in Game 2 at Fenway Park.
Cora said Martinez got treatment for his sore ankle during Thursday’s travel day. The manager said Martinez would get more treatment Friday, and a decision would be made as game time approached.
Martinez has said he planned on playing in Game 3. He started 57 times in the outfield this season, splitting time in left field and right field.
If Martinez plays the outfield, then either Betts, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. or left fielder Andrew Benintendi would lose their spot. There had been speculation Betts could play second base — he made 14 starts there as a rookie in 2014, and played six innings at the spot in August after Ian Kinsler was hurt.
Cora flatly said Betts would not start at second base.
“Mookie Betts at second? No, he’s not playing second base. Well, he’s not starting at second base,” Cora said.
Martinez rolled his right ankle on a double in the opener. He stayed in and delivered a key hit Wednesday night.
After that win, Martinez said he planned on playing in Game 3. He started 57 times in the outfield this season, splitting time in left field and right field.
RATINGS DOWN » Viewership for Game 2 of the World Series was the lowest in four years, the same as the opener. An average of 13,442,000 people tuned to Fox for Boston’s 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, down 13 percent from the 15,483,000 average for Houston’s 7-6, 11-inning win over the Dodgers in the second game last year. This was the lowest Game 2 viewership since 12,917,000 for Kansas City’s 7-2 victory over San Francisco in 2014.
PEDERSON TO LEAD OFF » Joc Pederson will return to the top of the Dodgers’ batting order in Game 3 as manager Dave Roberts restores some left-handed pop to what had been a onesided lineup.
Roberts said during a day off Thursday he hoped Pederson could reach base and provide RBI opportunities to LA’s top hitters. Brian Dozier led off the first two games against lefthanders Chris Sale and David Price, and he was followed by eight more right-handed hitters both nights. With righthander Rick Porcello pitching for Boston, Roberts is expected to get slugging lefties Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy back in the lineup, as well.
Pederson is 3 for 17 during the postseason when at the top of the lineup. He hit 24 of his 25 regular-season home runs against righties while posting a .338 on-base percentage. ROOKIE GETS THE START » The Dodgers have seen the future and it’s ace-in-the-making Walker Buehler. Except they need him to deliver now.
Buehler will try to yank Los Angeles out of a 2-0 deficit against the Boston Red Sox when the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3.
Clearly, the Dodgers trust their 24-year-old rookie.
He led them to a victory over Colorado in Game 163 that clinched Los Angeles’ sixth straight NL West title. The right-hander also pitched well in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee.
Buehler was 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 24 regular-season appearances, including one in relief. He was especially good down the stretch with a 1.55 ERA over his last 12 starts.