RED SOX NOTEBOOK: It's all about matchups

Sox go with right-handed bats against left-handed New York starter C.C. Sabathia in Game 4.

NEW YORK -- Hitting for the first postseason cycle in Major League Baseball history wasn’t enough to earn Brock Holt a start the following night.

Ian Kinsler was back in the lineup at second base for Game 4 of the American League Division Series Tuesday night. Holt’s tour de force in a 16-1 thrashing of the Yankees in Game 3 didn’t move Red Sox manager Alex Cora off the plan he carried with him into the best-of-5 meeting with the Yankees.

Cora was inclined to deploy his right-handed bats against left-handed New York starter C.C. Sabathia, with Eduardo Nunez also returning at third base in favor of Rafael Devers. Sabathia’s career splits – .229/.292/.347 against left-handed hitters, .256/.315/.399 against right-handed hitters – were even sharper this season. Batters posted an OPS 103 points higher – .732 to .629 – from the right side.

“Tough league,” Cora quipped. “It’s a tough league. It’s more about the guy on the mound – he’s been great against lefties.”

Holt hit in 11 straight games to close the regular season and started a seven-run fourth inning against the Yankees on Monday with a single to center. He bashed a two-run triple to the corner in right to cap the damage, as Boston took any suspense out of the evening rather early. Kinsler is 2 for 8 in the series with a team-high five strikeouts, and he was a bit surprised when Cora told him there would be no last-minute changes.

“For the people outside this room, it looks like this guy is nuts,” Cora said, referring to himself. “What’s he doing? For the people in here, there’s a reason we’re doing this. That’s what matters.

“I get it. I understand why people might be asking why he’s not playing Brock or Raffy, but at the same time that guy Sabathia is pretty tough on lefties. We have to maximize our lineup.”

Christian Vazquez was also a bit of a surprise starter behind the plate, catching Rick Porcello for the first time since the Red Sox were eliminated by Houston in last year’s ALDS. Porcello’s career earned-run average is only a tick lower throwing to Sandy Leon – 4.14, compared to 4.15 with Vazquez. Leon remains mired in a dreadful 5-for-84 funk over the last two months while Vazquez singled twice in Game 3.

“Christian, the last month, he’s been really, really good behind the plate calling pitches, blocking balls, throwing people out and sticking with the game plan,” Cora said. “Offensively, I felt like he gave us enough yesterday.”

Same at first: Steve Pearce was always a likely Game 4 starter at first base thanks to his strong numbers against left-handed pitchers in general and Sabathia specifically. Pearce is 12 for 38 with three doubles and three home runs against Sabathia, and the fact that Mitch Moreland (right hamstring) is still ailing played little to no part in Cora’s decision.

“He feels better today,” Cora said of Moreland. “Still available. Not ready to go out there and play nine (innings). He wasn’t playing anyway today, but we’ll use him if needed against a righty.”

Pearce would also be a likely Game 5 starter if the Yankees bring back J.A. Happ for a second outing of the series. Moreland (5 for 23, double, two home runs) would likely be in consideration along with Pearce (5 for 18, two home runs) should New York decide to move up Masahiro Tanaka in place of Happ.

Starter to reliever: Cora said David Price would be available out of the bullpen in Game 4, but it would be less likely to see another Red Sox left-handed starter.

Chris Sale lobbied Cora over the first two days in New York to pitch in relief should Boston have a chance to close out the series. He’s the scheduled Game 5 starter, if necessary, on Thursday, but Sale’s mindset was that the Red Sox should sell out for the kill if they have even the slightest chance.

“It’s something that has to be too perfect,” Cora said. “I lived it last year.”

Cora was the Astros’ bench coach when manager A.J. Hinch went to Justin Verlander in relief of Charlie Morton in Game 4 of last year’s ALDS. There was a man on in the fifth inning when Verlander served up a two-run homer to Andrew Benintendi, the first batter the right-handed starter faced in the game. Houston eventually rallied late for a 5-4 victory to secure the series win, but a deciding Game 5 could have been a dicey proposition.

“A.J. made a decision to bring in Verlander, and I didn’t agree because it was a one-run game (Houston had a 2-1 lead),” Cora said. “That happened and we almost didn’t have him for a potential Game 5.

“We’ll talk. The chances are very slim.”