Red Sox: 5 players with the most to prove this postseason

Heading into this postseason, the Red Sox have many players with varying degrees of postseason experience and success. So who has the most to prove?

Up and down this Boston Red Sox roster, you’ll find players with multiple years of postseason experience, some with none at all, and then many who are only just getting their second taste of playoff baseball. When it comes to this team, regardless of whether they’ve played in October or not, succeeded in October or not, there are a number of players who the Red Sox will need to count on if they want to win their 9th World Series title this year.

When it comes to this team, regardless of whether they’ve played in October or not, or have been successful on the postseason stage, there are a number of players who the Red Sox will need to count on if they want to win their 9th World Series title this year.

One player who will need to prove himself in the wake of a lackluster regular season is Hanley Ramirez.

The Red Sox need him to hit. We know what Hanley is capable of at the plate, and if he can turn it on against Houston there’s no telling where these Red Sox could go. After a season that saw him hit just .241 with 23 home runs and 62 RBIs to follow up his 2016 campaign of .286, 30, and 111, Sox fans were disappointed that his production fell off by so much.

The Red Sox will need him to provide production in the middle of their order if they plan on planning late into October. For a player who so desperately wants to be looked up to as his good friend David Ortiz was, now is the time to make his mark. The Sox need a power bat in their lineup and Hanley is the best candidate.

Chris Sale will be coming into his first career postseason start. For Sale, the expectations haven’t changed. While he seemed to fade from his Cy Young front-runner form after August 1, Sale will still no doubt be finishing second to Corey Kluber when the award is announced. With the first 300 K season since Pedro Martinez in 1999, Sale will once again be counted on to put those Ks on the board.

While it will be his first taste of October baseball, Sale has the right mentality and right stuff in his repertoire to put up zeros on the board. Matched up against Verlander, we should expect Sale to be up for the challenge and a great pitchers duel on deck. Among pundits and fans alike, Sale is the type of player who will revel in the opportunity to pitch under the bright October lights.

With Sale, many believe this October is his chance to put his name on the map for good. After many years toiling away with the White Sox, Sale barely ever came close to sniffing October. Now, he has the chance to not only pitch deep into the fall but to carry his team there. All season long the Red Sox have relied on their 1-2 punch in Sale/Pomeranz and this month will be no different. As long as Sale is taking the mound for these Red Sox, there’s no reason to believe they won’t have a chance this October.

After the retirement of Red Sox legend David Ortiz, many believed Mookie Betts would be the next great middle of the order bat the Red Sox could lean on. While he didn’t post numbers close to his MVP runner-up season of last year, Mookie still put together a great all-around season. This fall will be Mookie’s second taste of the postseason, and even though he couldn’t help replace Ortiz’

This fall will be Mookie’s second taste of the postseason, and even though he couldn’t help replace Ortiz’ regular-season production this year, there’s still a chance for Mookie to become Red Sox October hero in his own right if he can get hot in the coming weeks.

Mookie has a chance at redemption. After a lackluster regular season by his standards and a 2016 postseason that saw him go just 2-for-10 over the course of their three games against Cleveland last fall, Red Sox fans will be looking for him to make noise in a big spot at long last. We know Mookie is going to be able to provide incredible value to this team with his base running and fielding, but where this team needs him desperately will be at the plate against Houston.

Even in a lackluster season, Mookie was still able to put together a campaign of 24 home runs. 26 steals, and 103 RBIs. While the average and slugging may have been lacking, Mookie was still able to provide value in all other aspects of the game. For the Red Sox to get past Houston in the American League Division Series though, he’ll need to bring his bat.

Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel was historically good this season. After striking out almost half the batters he faced, Kimbrel will be counted on more than ever as Farrell looks to mix and match his bullpen in the late innings. With elite relievers playing a role as important as ever in recent fall contests, look to Kimbrel to be used in 9th, 8th, and maybe even 7th innings.

John Farrell has already come out and said discussions have occurred surrounding Kimbrel’s usage, and don’t be surprised if he starts the chess match early with his most powerful weapon. If the heart of the Astros lineup is scheduled to come up in the 8th, why wouldn’t he use Kimbrel in that spot? To beat the best, Farrell will have to use his best. He shouldn’t shy away from riding Kimbrel down the stretch in close games.

This will be Kimbrel’s 5th round of October experience, and thus far he’s lived up to the challenge. In 8.0 career postseason innings, Kimbrel has posted a 1.13 ERA, surrendered just 1 hit, and struck out 13 of the 25 batters he’s faced. If Boston has any hopes of getting by Houston, utilizing Kimbrel to the best of their abilities will certainly be part of the plan.