BOSTON -- With no margin for error remaining, Red Sox manager John Farrell will have David Price available in relief for Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) of the American League Division Series against the Indians. Boston trails the best-of-five series, 2-0, heading into today's Game 3 (6 p.m. ET on TBS) at Fenway Park.
Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz are two additional lefty starters Farrell has available as relievers. Rodriguez was originally slated to start Game 4, but Sunday's rainout gave Farrell the chance to plug ace Rick Porcello into that spot. If the Red Sox can force Game 4, it will be played at either 2 or 3 p.m. ET Tuesday on TBS.
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Pomeranz got moved to the bullpen for the postseason after showing signs of fatigue during a campaign in which he logged a career-high 170 1/3 innings. He was sharp out of the 'pen in Game 1, striking out five over 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
"With everyone available, Pomeranz would probably be the long lefty and the first lefty to go to," said Farrell.
Farrell will try not to deploy Price or Rodriguez in the middle of an inning. Rodriguez has never pitched in the bullpen before, in the regular season or postseason. Price, on the other hand, has both of his career postseason wins as a reliever. In six career playoff appearances as a reliever, Price is 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA.
If the Red Sox can push this series to Game 5 back in Cleveland on Wednesday, Price is a candidate to start. Rodriguez is the other most likely option. But Farrell needs to pull out every stop he needs just to get to a potential Game 5.
"There is no tomorrow," Farrell said before Game 3. "I can't sit here at 2:30 in the afternoon and say we're going to stay away from someone to save them for another time."
Price took the loss in his Game 2 start, lasting just 3 1/3 innings. In his career as a starter in the postseason, he is 0-8 with a 5.74 ERA.
Wright's chances of '16 return diminishing
If the Red Sox can come back from this 2-0 deficit and advance to the AL Championship Series, it's doubtful knuckleballer Steven Wright will be available. The righty continues to make slow progress from the right shoulder bursitis he sustained when he dove as a pinch-runner at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 7.
"He threw a bullpen [session] Saturday," said Farrell. "Did not face hitters. Two simulated innings, up and down. Second inning didn't feel as clean or as good as his first. If we're able to advance, I don't know what his availability will be at this point."
Originally, the Red Sox hoped Wright would spend this week facing hitters in the instructional league in Fort Myers, Fla. But he did not make enough progress in his bullpen session to take that step. Wright had a strong season, going 13-6 with a 3.33 ERA in 24 starts.