Red Sox manager Alex Cora originally only wanted to use projected Game 4 starter Nathan Eovaldi in Game 3 if the Red Sox had a real chance at winning Game 3. Eovaldi would be the “rover” Cora has been turning starting pitchers into in the eighth, as a bridge to closer Craig Kimbrel, but if the Red Sox weren’t in a position where they needed to bridge to their fireman, then Eovaldi would be the Game 4 starter in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
Red Sox used Game 4 starter Nathan Eovaldi in Game 3, so now what?
The Red Sox knew there was a chance Eovaldi would pitch in Game 3, and he did, so who’s around for Game 4 after extra innings?
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
It ended up being David Price, the Game 2 starter — yes, this game was weird and it ruled — who came in to bridge to Kimbrel, but it was during a tie game. A tie game that stayed tied, and then untied, and then tied again, and finally Max Muncy hit a walkoff homer in the [checks notes] 18th inning. Eovaldi had to pitch six-plus innings to make that happen, though, which means he is not starting Game 4, which literally begins later today.
It’s also today when I am writing this. All hail the longest game in World Series history in both time and innings.
So... what do the Red Sox do in Game 4, given their Game 4 starter just threw an entire Game 4’s worth of pitches the night and morning before? They improvise! Goodnight everyone!
Really, though: they improvise. Drew Pomeranz wasn’t warming up until the 18th inning because Alex Cora knew Eovaldi had six-to-seven innings in him in Game 3, and Pomeranz was an option to start Game 4. Drew Pomeranz, the guy with the horrible ERA? That Pomeranz? Yes! It’s him! But not really: Pomeranz dealt with injuries and lessened velocity throughout the season, but has spent October working his way back to the Pomeranzian form that made him so good just a year ago. He says he’s back up to 93-94 miles per hour, and if he is, then he can start a World Series game.
Will he be any good? I don’t know: will any of the players be any good tomorrow after playing in literally the longest MLB game in the history of the postseason? Pomeranz is rested, that’s for sure, after spending the last two months of the season in relief and October off of the postseason roster. If he can hit his usual good Pomeranz velocity on the radar gun, we might see the Dodgers continuing to struggle to score runs.
Given Pomeranz hasn’t been starting for a while, though, and hasn’t pitched in a live game since September 30, he can’t be relied on by himself to pitch Game 4. There’s Eduardo Rodriguez, though, who recorded one out and threw all of six pitches in the process: he’s another pitcher who started for the Red Sox in the regular season but has been pushed aside and into a relief role in the postseason. Pomeranz and Rodriguez should be able to combine to take up most of Game 4.
None of Boston’s bullpen worked more than an inning in Game 3 besides Craig Kimbrel, too, so, relatively speaking, those relievers are rested. Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, and Heath Hembree can all be available again for Game 4. Two starters and a handful of relievers should bring Boston the distance, assuming they aren’t in for another two games worth of pitching again on Saturday.
Boston is up 2-1 in the World Series, so they have a little leeway if Game 4 doesn’t work out. They’re in a position to make it work, though, as Pomeranz with his velocity is a great starter, and he’s left-handed, which the Dodgers struggled against comparatively in 2018. Rodriguez is left-handed, too, so Boston could potentially keep the Dodgers’ inferior version of their lineup around for most of the game.
Boston might even be in better shape than Los Angeles for Game 4, as the Dodger are using Rich Hill, who is effective when he’s in, but is not in for very long. After 18-innings on Friday, that kind of differentiation in pitcher fatigue could be the key to Game 4.
The Red Sox aren’t guaranteed a Game 4 win or anything like that. However, they have two regular season starters ready to go to make a Game 4 effort work, and between their handedness and the state of the Dodgers’ bullpen, maybe they can pull out a W and put the Red Sox up 3-1 in the World Series.
And if not, their presence will help bridge Boston to a rested Chris Sale, and then, a rested David Price: that’s not a terrible place to be, especially with Game 6 back in Boston. Hey, by Game 7, if it comes to that, Nathan Eovaldi might even be ready to go again!
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