Red Sox Postseason: Five players who need to step up in ALCS
By Sean Penney
Is it fair to ask a 21-year old to step up under the spotlight? Probably not but the Red Sox are going to need more out of Rafael Devers.
The young third baseman was fine during the ALDS, going 2-for-7 (.286) with an RBI. Neither of those hits went for extra bases though and Boston needs Devers to be the power threat that Eduardo Nunez (2-for-11 in the ALDS) isn’t.
Devers started only once in the four-game series against the Yankees but will be counted on more against Houston. The pitching matchups played a part in the lineup construction with Devers sitting against lefties J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia. The Astros rotation is predominantly right-handed. The lone exception is Dallas Keuchel, a rare southpaw with reverse splits that Boston shouldn’t fear using their left-handed bats against.
His defense was the other reason Devers spent much of the ALDS on the bench. He led the league with 24 errors and posted a concerning -13 defensive runs saved. You can’t afford to lose a playoff game by making sloppy mistakes. However, it’s not as if Nunez brings an elite glove to the hot corner. While he deserves credit for making an outstanding play charging a slow roller to put away the decisive game of the ALDS, Nunez made his fair share of miscues against the Yankees. If neither player can be counted on to play solid defense, give me the bat that can change the game with one swing against a loaded Astros pitching staff.
Or just let the criminally underused Brock Holt play third so he can hit for the cycle again.