Alex Cora says Brayan Bello, all Red Sox relievers are available to pitch in Game 3 vs. Yankees
“Hopefully today we can score a bunch of runs and they keep me out of it."
With the Red Sox’ season on the line, Alex Cora said Thursday that it will be all hands on deck in Boston’s bullpen for Game 3 in the Wild Card Series.
The decisive game against the Yankees will feature Boston turning to rookie Connelly Early to start in Yankee Stadium.
But Boston will have no shortage of reinforcements behind the southpaw, as Cora said that all of the Red Sox’ relievers — and even Game 2 starter Brayan Bello — will be available if needed.
The Red Sox utilized six different relievers in Game 2 against New York in an effort to deliver a knockout punch against their top rival.
But even with several bullpen arms getting called upon Wednesday, Cora said that no reliever has been ruled out for Game 3 — even Garrett Whitlock.
Whitlock threw a season-high 47 pitches on Wednesday, with Boston’s set-up man exceeding 24 pitches for the first time since June 23. Even with that workload, Cora said that Whitlock could be utilized if needed in the late innings.
“We’ll see where he’s at and we’ll use him however we feel is good for us,” Cora said of Whitlock, per the Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo.
Bello could come in handy if Boston needs an option to log multiple innings. Despite starting Game 2 on Wednesday, Bello only threw 28 pitches in his abbreviated start before Cora turned to the bullpen.
The only arm who may not be available for Game 3 is ace Garrett Crochet, who threw 117 pitches in Boston’s Game 1 win Tuesday. Cora was initially evasive when asked about Crochet’s availability before saying that the star lefty likely isn’t an option.
“I’ve seen weird stuff happen in this stadium before, so we’ll see,” Cora told Cerullo. “I can’t say maybe, nah, we’ll see. Probably not.”
Even with those options available for Boston, Cora is still hoping that Early can get through a few innings against an imposing Yankees lineup — while Boston’s bats can capitalize against New York’s Game 3 starter Cam Schlittler.
“Hopefully today we can score a bunch of runs and they keep me out of it,” Cora said. “I joked with them like score a lot, pitch well and I’ll stay away from it, hopefully that happens and we can hop on a plane to Toronto.”
Here is a look at Boston’s lineup for Game 3, with the Red Sox turning to a more regular batting order with a righty in Schlittler on the mound. With Max Fried and Carlos Rodon starting Games 1 and 2 for New York, Cora loaded up on right-handed bats in Boston’s first two games.
1) LF Jarren Duran
2) SS Trevor Story
3) 3B Alex Bregman
4) DH Masataka Yoshida
5) CF Ceddanne Rafaela
6) 1B Nathaniel Lowe
7) C Carlos Narváez
8) RF Wilyer Abreu
9) 2B Romy Gonzalez
Even with a lefty in Early on the mound, Aaron Boone and New York will have left-handed power bats like Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm in the lineup for Thursday night.
1) CF Trent Grisham
2) RF Aaron Judge
3) LF Cody Bellinger
4) DH Giancarlo Stanton
5) 1B Ben Rice
6) 3B Amed Rosario
7) 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
8) SS Anthony Volpe
9) C Austin Wells
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