Red Sox announce Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi will start first two games of ALCS against Astros
The Boston Red Sox have announced their starting pitchers for the first two games of the ALCS, and it’s safe to say that no one saw this coming.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, manager Alex Cora has decided that Chris Sale will start Game 1, and Nathan Eovaldi will start Game 2. This comes hours after Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker confirmed his own starting pitchers for the first pair of games, Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia.
Cora just passed Chris Sale: “Hey, the opener!”
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 14, 2021
Chris Sale will start Game 2 of the ALCS for the Red Sox
For Red Sox fans who watched Sale implode against the Astros in two previous postseasons, this news does not bring back fond memories.
Sale’s first career postseason start was against the Astros in Game 1 of the 2017 ALDS, and he allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in five innings, including three home runs. He walked one and struck out six. In the fourth game, then-manager John Farrell used him in a long-relief role, and Sale allowed two earned runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings, again striking out six.
The lefty only faced the Astros once during the 2018 ALCS, but again gave up two earned runs, and only stayed in the game for four innings. The Red Sox have lost every game against the Astros in which Sale has pitched.
Sale will start the pennant series opener one week after his Game 2 start against the Rays. The struggling star pitched exactly one inning, allowing five earned runs on four hits, including a grand slam that put his team in an immediate 5-2 hole. Tanner Houck was called upon to hold down the fort, a role he will likely take on again at some point in the ALCS.
Nathan Eovaldi will start Game 2 of the ALCS for the Red Sox
Eovaldi was the presumed Game 1 starter because of his postseason efficacy; he has a 1.93 ERA over eight career postseason games, including four starts, and the Red Sox have gone 7-1 in said games.
In his regular-season career, Eovaldi has a 3.93 ERA over six starts against the Astros. Their lineups have slashed .248/.307/.468 with a .775 OPS, seven home runs, and 10 doubles.
During the 2018 ALCS against Houston, Nasty Nate made one start and one relief appearance. Over 7 1/3 total innings, he allowed two earned runs on seven hits, walked two, and struck out five. The Red Sox won both games.
Can the Red Sox win the ALCS?
Sale has developed a rough postseason reputation, not unlike former teammate David Price prior to the 2018 ALCS. Price had gotten rocked in Game 2 of the ALDS before completely turning things around in the following series and going on to be a World Series hero. Hopefully, it’s Sale’s turn to do the same.
2013 World Series champion Will Middlebrooks tweeted his support for Cora’s plan, calling it “genius.”
I think starting Sale gm1 is genius. They’ll be aggressive with the bullpen considering they’ve had 3 days rest. Using Pivetta or Houck heavily in game 1 means they’ll be ready to go again by game 4. Also gives Eovaldi and extra day of rest.
— Will Middlebrooks (@middlebrooks) October 14, 2021
Hard to argue with sound logic.
Ultimately, if Sale struggles in Game 1, Eovaldi can right the ship in Game 2. Both Astros starters struggled during the ALDS, but it’s a new series for both sides. Anything can happen.