Alex Cora explained why Chris Sale isn’t starting Game 5
"We’re more versatile this way."
Alex Cora announced at the end of his press conference early Saturday morning that David Price, not Chris Sale, would start Game 5. Before Price took the mound Sunday, the Red Sox manager elaborated on his decision.
“This puts us in a great position to cover everything,” Cora told reporters, per the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham. “David right now, he’s throwing the ball well. He’s fresh as far as his arm, body-wise and arm-wise. We saw what he did a few days ago with velocity. We feel like a National League game, we might have to hit for him early, fifth inning or something like that.”
Cora noted that if Boston does not close out the World Series in Los Angeles, Price will be available out of the bullpen for Games 6 and 7. The switch gives Sale, who was hospitalized with a stomach ailment last week, extra rest before a possible start Tuesday.
“Chris will have extra days’ rest, if he has to pitch Game 6,” Cora said. “You guys know about him coming from injury and then his infection in the belly button (laughter). It was tough for his belly button to bounce back and go to the bullpen in games 6 and 7. And that’s the reason behind it. It’s not that we’re trying to reinvent this. We’re just being prepared.”
The manager would not have made the swap in the rotation had the series been tied. Sale could still appear out of the bullpen Sunday night, provided the right conditions appear — like they did in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Yankees.
“With Chris, obviously we’ve got one inning today if needed,” Cora said. “That has to be the perfect situation. If we don’t use him and it’s not the way we want it to happen, he has extra rest for the next one and knowing that we’ve got Nate [Eovaldi] most likely for Game 7.”
Sale isn’t the only starter the Sox could turn to as they try to finish off the Dodgers. Eovaldi told Cora he was available for Game 5 after throwing 97 pitches the night before, and it sounds like he’s in the mix again Sunday.
https://twitter.com/ByChrisMason/status/1056656095534444544
