Bill Koch

Monday

Sep 24, 2018 at 9:08 PM

BOSTON — Monday’s matchup with the Orioles served a dual purpose for the Red Sox.

It’s the final leg of the regular season for Boston, a six-game homestand at Fenway Park that’s largely free of consequence for the hosts. The Red Sox will be here for at least the next two weeks, hosting the opening two games of the American League Division Series against the Yankees or Athletics. Boston’s magic number to clinch home-field advantage [...]

BOSTON — Monday’s matchup with the Orioles served a dual purpose for the Red Sox.

These last six games against Baltimore and New York also find Boston manager Alex Cora searching for balance. How many at-bats will his regulars require? How many pitches should his starters throw? Who could use innings in the field more than the next man? These are the questions Cora will contemplate through Sunday’s finale with the Yankees.

“There are a few guys, they’re working on a few things and getting back in a groove offensively,” Cora said. “We know we’ve got a few days off between the last game of the season and the first game of the playoffs. It will be good to get back to normal, which is hard.”

Several late nights of travel and one evening of revelry highlighted the final road trip of the season. The Red Sox clinched a third straight A.L. East title in the Bronx on Thursday, notched their lone win in a series at Cleveland the following night and slogged through a pair of 11-inning defeats on Saturday and Sunday. Another pre-dawn arrival Monday morning was less than ideal, and Cora excused his players from their usual pregame routines before opening the series with Baltimore.

“This time of year we can actually work on things,” said Steve Pearce, who started at first base on Monday. “You can get guys at-bats who need at-bats. Guys who are nursing injuries have a chance to get healthy.

“Especially with what we’ve accomplished all year — first place, best record, home-field advantage — now it’s time where we can actually prepare for what we’re about to do.”

Pearce is one of several Boston players whose time on the field in the playoffs is likely contingent on the opponent. He wears out left-handed New York starters J.A. Happ and C.C. Sabathia to the tune of 21-for-64 with seven home runs, five doubles and six walks. Sean Manaea’s left shoulder surgery deprives Oakland of its ace and likely leaves Mitch Moreland to face right-handers Mike Fiers, Trevor Cahill and Edwin Jackson.

This isn’t something you would hear Pearce or his teammates discuss during clubhouse media availability. It also might not be a topic they’ve broached behind the scenes, either. Cora said he’s heard very little in terms of roster or lineup projections from his club to date.

“We’re probably more familiar with the Yankees,” Pearce said. “Oakland is a hot team right now. They’re both really good teams. They’re fighting for their home-field advantage for that one-game wildcard. We get to sit back and we like to have a tactical advantage going into whatever series it is.”

“I know they’re very excited,” Cora said. “They know what’s going on. They’re just excited that they’re going to play Oct. 5.

“As a player I never went through that. Kind of like, ‘We want to play this team.’ As far as logistics for the family, it would be good for that to play on the East Coast.”

That doesn’t mean Cora is about to do the Yankees any favors. He’d like nothing better than to see the Athletics host the wildcard game. Regardless of the outcome, the winner would be facing a cross-country flight and quick turnaround against a Red Sox team that will be rested and ready to greet them.

“It’s not an easy flight,” Cora said. “We’ll see where we’re at. Our guys need at-bats anyway, so most likely most of them are going to play two out of three. I feel comfortable with whoever is playing on our team.”

-- bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

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