Worth noting

• Despite Clay Buchholz's much-chronicled shoulder fatigue, Farrell said he didn't give a lot of consideration to pitching Jon Lester on three days' rest in this series, which could have given the ace the chance to start Games 1, 4 and 7.

"There was some conversation, but I think history shows that has not been successful," Farrell said. "Well, from a broader perspective on Lester, the last seven, eight weeks of the season, he pitched on [five] days' rest the entire time. He went on [four] days' rest in Detroit, and had a little bit different stuff. It was noticeable. I recognize we're in the World Series, I recognize the time of year. I would rather have Jon Lester at full strength, or with normal rest, than three days of rest."

• The Red Sox have Quintin Berry on the postseason roster largely because of his ability to steal a base as a pinch-runner. It will be interesting to see if Berry can utilize his speed against elite catcher Yadier Molina. In the first two games, the Red Sox didn't attempt a stolen base.

"I guess we're going to find that out when it happens," said Farrell. "They do a good job of controlling the running game. That's clear. And yet in the two games, we haven't had that situation arise yet."

• With his pitchers set to hit in the next three games, Farrell hopes they can get down bunts when needed.

"Even something as basic as a sac bunt, we don't have that much repetition," Farrell said. "We can work all we want, as we do, in the cage or live BP sessions, but you put 40-plus thousand people in the seats and 90-plus [mph] coming at you, that's a different scenario. We just hope to get a sac bunt down if it calls for it."