Cora to interview with Red Sox on Sunday

HOUSTON -- Astros bench coach Alex Cora is expected to be interviewed Sunday for the Red Sox's vacant managerial opening, the Boston Globe reported Saturday. The Globe reported Cora, 41, would interview with Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow couldn't be reached for comment.
Cora, in his first season as bench coach with Houston, figured to be a hot commodity for any managerial positions this offseason. The Astros are flying to New York from Houston following Saturday's Game 2 of the American League Championship Series presented by Camping World.
• Dress for the ALCS: Get Astros postseason gear
:: ALCS schedule and coverage ::
Cora has a diverse background that includes jobs as a baseball analyst on ESPN and as a general manager of a team in his hometown in Puerto Rico, as well as acting as general manager of the Puerto Rican national team that finished as the runner-up to the United States in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. That's on top of a 14-year Major League career with six teams. Cora played for the Red Sox from 2005-08.
"His first year of coaching has gone well, given his ability to connect with players and given his baseball intellect," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said last week. "He's very sharp, sees the game in an extraordinarily deep way, has really connected well with players in our clubhouse and spent a lot of time developing relationships and being the bench coach liaison to the clubhouse that I asked him to be.
"And I think he's grown, and I think that's key because it's not easy to just, no matter how long your career, jump into a coaching role. Trust me, I know how things can go when you jump right into a job, it's not easy. So for him to be able to learn, to grow, to evolve, become a better coach, continued to learn the game. Those are characteristics as to why he is a hot name in every opening that's coming up so far this offseason or this postseason and why one day he's going to manage, whether it's now or later."

Astros undecided on Game 4 starter
The Astros will start either Lance McCullers Jr. or Brad Peacock, both right-handers, against the Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday. Right-hander Sonny Gray will start for New York.
Hinch said Peacock, who started Game 3 of the AL Division Series presented by Doosan in Boston a week ago, would be available out of Houston's bullpen in Saturday's Game 2 and Monday's Game 3, which will determine his availability to start at Yankee Stadium.
Peacock gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Red Sox in the ALDS. McCullers relieved him in that game, making his first career relief appearance, and allowed two runs and three hits in three innings. McCullers' only other postseason appearance was a Game 4 start against the Royals in the 2015 ALDS.

Charlie Morton is scheduled to start Game 3 on Monday at Yankee Stadium.