Yanks-Red Sox G2: Lineups, matchups, FAQs

October 5th, 2018

BOSTON -- The Red Sox and Yankees created plenty of dramatic moments in Game 1 of their American League Division Series, as Boston emerged with a nail-biting 5-4 win on Friday night in which the bullpen seemed to be hanging on for dear life.
The anticipation has already started for Game 2. Can finally come through in a postseason start? Will build off his previous October excellence? How will Red Sox manager Alex Cora navigate his bullpen this time against the dangerous Yankees?
:: ALDS schedule and results ::
Here's a primer for Game 2.
What might the starting lineups look like?
Yankees: New York altered its lineup, with  not starting in Game 2 and getting the nod in center because of Hicks' hamstring injury. But an MRI on Saturday came back clean, and he's available off the bench.
1. , LF
2. , RF
3. , 1B
4. , DH
5. , C
6. Didi Gregorius, SS
7. , 3B
8. , 2B
9. Brett Gardner, CF
Red Sox: Cora will make a couple of changes in this one with Tanaka, a right-hander, on the mound. Mitch Moreland will play first, while got the start over  at the hot corner. After a big three-run homer by J.D. Martinez in the first inning of Game 1, the Sox were largely held in check by the Yankees. They will try to put pressure on Tanaka early, much like they did against J.A. Happ.

  1. , RF
  2. , LF
  3. J.D. Martinez, DH
  4. , SS
  5. Mitch Moreland, 1B
  6. Eduardo Nunez, 3B
  7. , 2B
  8. , C
  9. , CF
    Who are the starting pitchers?
    Yankees: Tanaka (12-6, 3.75 ERA) struggled over his final two regular-season starts, giving up eight earned runs in eight innings (9.00 ERA), including a no-decision to the Red Sox on Sept. 20 in New York that saw Tanaka permit five runs and eight hits over four-plus innings. In four career postseason starts, Tanaka's ERA is 1.44.

Red Sox: Price (16-7, 3.58 ERA) gets another chance to change the narrative from his previous October clunkers. In nine career starts in the postseason, Price is 0-8 with a 5.74 ERA. The other subplot is that he's had plenty of rocky moments against the Yankees since joining baseball's most storied rivalry. In 11 rivalry starts, Price is 2-7 with a 7.71 ERA. He did pitch well against the Yanks at Fenway Park on Aug. 5, allowing four hits and two runs over six innings.
Price seeks redemption in 10th playoff start
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Yankees: permitted a pair of inherited runners to score in Game 1, but otherwise, the relief crew of Green, , Zach Britton and combined for six scoreless innings behind Happ. could be available for multiple innings, as he last pitched in the AL Wild Card Game.

Red Sox: As chaotic as Game 1 was for Cora's bullpen, no reliever threw more than the 22 pitches by closer , who recorded four outs. Nobody else was asked to get more than three. One thing that hurts is the loss of knuckleballer , who was replaced by on the Division Series roster Saturday due to inflammation and loose body in his left knee. Cora will mix and match, and hope that Price can give him an extended outing.

Are there any relievers who are unavailable?
Yankees:
Boone said that Green and Lynn are both available. Green threw 24 pitches over two innings in Game 1, and Lynn threw 32 pitches over two innings, though Boone said both hurlers came in feeling good.

Red Sox: It's doubtful the the Sox will ask to come out of the bullpen again in this one. Porcello threw a side session before Friday's game, and he then recorded two outs in the eighth. He will likely start Game 3 or 4 at Yankee Stadium.
Any injuries of note?
Yankees: Hicks is limited to a bench role for Game 2 after exiting Game 1 early with right hamstring tightness.

Red Sox: The loss of Wright stings for sure. He was looked at as an "X" factor for Cora due to his ability to provide length and keep opposing hitters off-balance. In his place, the Red Sox added , who struggled in the second half, recording a 5.03 ERA with three blown saves. He also allowed five home runs in 19 2/3 innings after the All-Star break, and now has to contend with a Yankees lineup that hit an MLB-record 265 home runs in the regular season.
Who is hot and who is not?
Yankees: Voit continued to crush the ball in Game 1, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Over his past 13 games (regular season and postseason), Voit is batting .404 (21-for-52) with 13 runs, seven homers and 20 RBIs. Judge has homered in both of the Yankees' postseason games this year, and five of his last seven. Stanton went 1-for-5 with four strikeouts in the Game 1 loss.

Red Sox: Martinez could carry the Red Sox this month. He clubbed a three-run homer to set the tone in Game 1, and he later added a single. Catcher Leon, who provides excellence with his glove and game-calling ability, continues to be almost an automatic out at the plate. After going 0-for-3 in Game 1, Leon has just two hits in his last 48 at-bats.
Anything else fans might want to know?
The Red Sox have definitely put the pressure on the Yankees with Friday's win. In the history of five-game series with the 2-2-1 format, teams that won Game 1 at home went on to take the series 27 of 36 times (75 percent).