Eovaldi blocking out the pregame noise

HOUSTON — If he did happen to sneak a peek at Instagram on Monday, Nathan Eovaldi might not have been pleased.

A certain video clip served as an unfortunate reminder from the last time the Red Sox Game 3 starter in the American League Championship Series faced the Astros. Houston third baseman Alex Bregman was the author of the post and one of its stars.

The Astros roughed up Eovaldi for back-to-back-to-back home runs on June 20 in [...]

HOUSTON — If he did happen to sneak a peek at Instagram on Monday, Nathan Eovaldi might not have been pleased.

A certain video clip served as an unfortunate reminder from the last time the Red Sox Game 3 starter in the American League Championship Series faced the Astros. Houston third baseman Alex Bregman was the author of the post and one of its stars.

The Astros roughed up Eovaldi for back-to-back-to-back home runs on June 20 in a 5-1 victory. George Springer, Bregman and Jose Altuve each went deep to left at Minute Maid Park, three of the four solo shots allowed by Eovaldi in the game. He made five more starts for Tampa Bay before being traded to Boston ahead of the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

“I don’t have any social media or anything like that,” Eovaldi said Monday. “The guys have told me about it.

“Home run clips, right? Something like that. I’m aware of it.”

It was reminiscent of the last Red Sox playoff matchup against the Yankees in the A.L. Division Series. New York outfielder Aaron Judge was spotted walking out of Fenway Park after a Game 2 victory with the Frank Sinatra classic "New York, New York" blaring from a set of portable speakers. Boston made a point of playing the same song in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium after winning the clinching Game 4.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora feigned indifference when asked Monday about Bregman’s post. Cora is active on Twitter and certainly aware of what is being said and written about his club in the media. But that doesn’t mean Judge, Bregman or any other player is going to draw a public reaction from Cora or his players.

“Like I said a few days ago, if you need motivation in Game 3 of the ALCS, you better check yourself,” Cora said. “Because if you win three more games you go to the show [World Series]. And that’s what should motivate you.

“Alex has different ways of motivating himself. Whatever. I’ll leave it at that.”

Bregman has since deleted the post, but he’s the type of sandpapery personality that makes for a postseason villain. He stared down Joe Kelly after the Boston reliever drilled Bregman on the left elbow with a 100-mph fastball in Game 1 and had some words for both Kelly and the Red Sox dugout after scoring the eventual winning run. Bregman’s fly to deep left that ended Game 2 was a few feet shy of the tying home run.

Cora retains a closer relationship with Bregman from his time as Houston’s bench coach last season and has cited his talent and development into one of the game’s elite players multiple times this season. Bregman was publicly supportive of Cora on social media when President Donald Trump made a series of controversial statements regarding Cora’s native Puerto Rico and its relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

“We’re in a great time to be a baseball fan,” Cora said. “I’ve been saying that the whole season. You look at these two teams, ‘it’s like, ‘Wow.’ I’ve been talking about the talent.

“Alex Bregman is one of the best players in the big leagues. And now they’re talking — not for the right reasons. But they’re talking about it. And I think that’s cool.

“I don’t take it personal. I don’t play anymore. When I was playing I would be like, ‘Here we go.’ But I don’t throw a ball. I don’t have to hit. I don’t make errors anymore. I just manage a team, and I don’t get caught up in that.”

Eovaldi wasn’t moved an inch by the roaring sellout crowd in the Bronx during his last start. He dominated New York to the tune of one run on just five hits over seven innings, helping swing the series in Boston’s favor.

“I feel I’m a completely different pitcher,” Eovaldi said. “I’m attacking a lot differently. I’m going to try to keep the same approach — attacking hitters and moving forward. They have a lot of aggressive guys in their lineup.”