Boston Red Sox: Five keys to beating Cleveland Indians in ALDS
By Sean Penney
Solving the third base riddle
We know who’s on first, what’s on second, but I don’t know’s on third.
The Red Sox enter the postseason with a massive question mark at the hot corner. Brock Holt appeared to claim the job by default down the stretch, but his .239 batting average and .687 OPS in September leave a lot to be desired.
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The three starters that the Red Sox are likely to face in this series are all right-handed, which should take Aaron Hill out of the conversation to start. He could be a useful option off the bench to face a lefty reliever, but he’s not the solution at this position.
Travis Shaw has the most upside of this trio and provides the most pop, but his bat has been in a deep slumber since the break with a batting average that dipped below the Mendoza Line in the second half. He’s a streaky hitter that could catch fire at the right time, but can the Red Sox afford to take that chance?
Could Marco Hernandez be an unexpected source of production? The utility infielder barely played down the stretch and was a surprise addition to the ALDS roster, but he did hit .294 in limited opportunities this season. Sometimes a role player stepping up in a key moment can spark a deep postseason run. Maybe Hernandez can be that guy.