Red Sox vs. Indians 2017 Roster Breakdown: Infielders

Second Base

With David Ortiz officially retired, second baseman Dustin Pedroia becomes the longest-tenured member of the Red Sox. A constant cornerstone both at second base and in the clubhouse, Pedroia provides an invaluable role on this team. His constant hustle and hard-nosed style of play has garnered him the label of the clubhouse leader and a fan favorite.

But his contributions span just as far on the field, as Pedroia is one of the game’s top second basemen when healthy. And that’s the big if, because he’s managed 140+ games four times in the last seven seasons. The Red Sox need him to stay healthy, because when he’s on the field, the team wins. In the three seasons since 2010 he has played in 150+ games (2011, 2013, and 2016), Boston won 90+ games.

There’s a reason for that – Pedroia provides exceptional production on offense and defense. Slashing .318/.376/.449 in 2016, he put up a 5.6 WAR, good for sixth in the MLB among second basemen. Combined with his 12 defensive runs saved and 12.5 UZR, best among all second baseman, and Pedroia is still an elite two-way player.

The Indians counter with a capable second baseman of their own: Jason Kipnis. His numbers are similar to Pedroia’s; he slashed .275/.343/.469 with a 4.8 WAR, they’re just a little lagging. Kipnis is a top-10 second baseman in his own right, but Pedroia gets the edge here.

Advantage: Red Sox