WORLD SERIES: Betts may see time at second base

The Red Sox face something of a lineup dilemma in the middle three games of the best-of-seven affair with the National League champion. Boston will be without the designated hitter, forcing J.D. Martinez into the field and leaving one of the Red Sox regular position players on the bench against the Dodgers or Brewers.

BOSTON — It was the verbal equivalent of a brushback pitch posed to Alex Cora in question form on Saturday.

 Will Mookie Betts play second base during the World Series?

 The Red Sox face something of a lineup dilemma in the middle three games of the best-of-seven affair with the National League champion. Boston will be without the designated hitter, forcing J.D. Martinez into the field and leaving one of the Red Sox regular position players on the bench against the Dodgers or Brewers.

 “That’s the first question?” Cora said with mock exasperation during his remarks prior to a workout at Fenway Park. “Wow. I don’t know. He already played second in the regular season, so there’s always a chance, I guess.”

 Betts played six innings at the position in a 4-1 win over the Yankees on Aug. 3. Ian Kinsler strained his hamstring while running the bases, forcing Boston to make a series of changes on defense. Cora had already suffered the first ejection of his managerial career, and bench coach Ron Roenicke brought Betts in from right field to play the position he called home as a minor leaguer.

 “A.C. hasn’t steered us wrong,” Betts said. “We’ve got trust in him and we believe in him and I believe in myself. That’s what it takes to win.”

 The Red Sox have four outfielders for three spots. Betts, Martinez, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and left fielder Andrew Benintendi would all be in the mix for starts. Bradley — despite his Most Valuable Player performance in the American League Championship Series victory over the Astros — or Benintendi would almost certainly give way.

 “That conversation was going to come up,” Cora said. “One thing’s for sure – J.D. will play. That’s clear. We’ll see which alignment is better, which lineup is better and we’ll make decisions accordingly.”

 Bradley’s nine RBI against Houston were the third-most in an ALCS by a Boston player. Benintendi made a game-saving diving catch to seal an 8-6 victory in Game 4, a win that gave the Red Sox complete control against the defending world champions. Kinsler and Brock Holt have split time at second base throughout nine postseason games to date.

 “Those are the cool conversations that come with where we’re at, and I don’t mind that,” Cora said. “We’ll talk about it today.”

 Betts still takes regular ground balls at second base before batting practice, but that’s not solely to be prepared for a possible infield cameo. Think back to the first out in the eighth inning of Game 4, as Tony Kemp lashed a liner toward the corner in right at Minute Maid Park. Betts raced over, gathered the ball and turned loose a laser to second base that retired Kemp for the first out.

 “I’m able to make the quick throw — the turnaround throw,” Betts said. “I’m in the infield working on my hands. It’s kind of the reason why I do it. It’s just a bonus that I get some practice for the infield, too.”

 The greater concern for Cora would be exposing Betts to contact in the middle of the infield. He hasn’t had regular reps avoiding late slides or turning double plays under pressure in more than five years. Betts has also been the premier defensive right fielder in baseball since 2015, with his 36.3 defensive runs saved more than doubling runner-up Jason Heyward per FanGraphs.

 “I’m like, ‘There’s a reason that you’re the right fielder,’ ” Cora said. “He feels that he’s great at second — I don’t know. I never saw it.

 “If you ask him, he’ll say, ‘I’m great.’ If you ask (Dustin) Pedroia he’ll say, ‘He sucks.’ There’s a lot that goes into it.”

 Betts only had one defensive chance that night against New York, an Austin Romine leadoff grounder to his right in the sixth. Betts dropped to his knees, fielded cleanly and flipped to first base for the 4-3 putout. Rick Porcello needed only 86 pitches to finish a one-hitter in a 4-1 Boston triumph.