3 Red Sox players who will need to step up in the ALCS

Hunter Renfroe needs to step up for the Red Sox in the ALCS

Hunter Renfroe has at least one hit in every postseason game so far but will need to bring more to the table as the stakes get higher.

As a member of the Rays in 2020, Renfroe faced the Astros in four ALCS games. He went 2-for-9 with a double and two RBI, but also struck out six times. In his career against the unpopular team, he’s hit .211/.268.342 with a .610 OPS over 10 games.

Of his 128 career home runs, only one has come against the Astros, though he does have three against one of their pitchers, Zack Greinke, tied for the most he has against any MLB pitcher.

Over the first five games of this October run, Renfroe has six hits in 20 at-bats, but only one of them was for extra bases. His plate discipline has been pretty solid; he’s walked three times and struck out four times.

With one of the most potent offenses in baseball, the Astros have scored six or more runs in each game of the ALDS – even their sole loss – and nine or more in two of the three. The Red Sox have scored six or more runs in four of their five postseason games dating back to their 6-2 win over the Yankees in the Wild Card game but will need all hands on deck if they want to have a fighting chance.