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3 Red Sox players among MLB’s top playoff performers so far

By Sean Penney

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his game winning sacrifice fly in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his game winning sacrifice fly in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox Nathan Eovaldi
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 14: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Boston Red Sox throws a pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 14, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi

Nathan Eovaldi falls right in the middle of the list at No. 5 but he trails only Houston’s Lance McCullers (No. 3) among pitchers.

Eovaldi endeared himself to Red Sox Nation with a gutsy performance out of the bullpen during the 2018 World Series but his role has changed for this postseason. With Chris Sale struggling in his return from Tommy John surgery, Eovaldi has emerged as the ace of the Red Sox rotation and a viable candidate for the AL Cy Young award.

Nasty Nate has done everything that is expected from an ace this postseason. He held the New York Yankees to one run over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win in the Wild Card game. That was followed by a five-inning effort where he allowed two runs to the Rays in Game 3 of the ALDS. Eovaldi settled for a no-decision in a game the Red Sox would win on a 13th-inning walk-off home run but Boston might not have made it to extra-innings if it weren’t for a solid outing from their starter.

Through two starts, Eovaldi has allowed three earned runs and recorded 16 strikeouts with only one walk through 10 1/3 innings. He’s fifth in the majors among pitchers with at least seven innings pitched this postseason with a 2.61 ERA and his 0.77 WHIP ranks third.

The Red Sox will need Eovaldi to continue his dominance on the mound in the ALCS against an Astros team that led the majors in runs scored this season. The Yankees and Rays are no slouches at the plate though and he handled them admirably. Nate has proven he can be great against anyone.

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