Propelled by the pitching quartet of David Price, Joe Kelly, Nathan Eovaldi and Craig Kimbrel, the Boston Red Sox pulled out a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park.
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With the Fall Classic now shifting to Dodger Stadium this weekend, the Dodgers will attempt to avoid a 3-0 series deficit when they send rookie Walker Buehler to the mound in another high-stakes game on Friday.
The Red Sox counter with 2016 American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello. Looking ahead to Game 4 on Saturday, the pitching matchup appears less certain.
While Rich Hill is projected to start for the Dodgers, Red Sox manager Alex Cora is unsure if Eovaldi, who has already made two relief appearances in the series, will get the nod. “I don’t know, we’ll see,” he admitted.
“Rick [Porcello] is starting Game 3. You never know. Like I’ve been saying all along, we’re all in every day. If we feel there’s a chance to close the door with them, we’ll use him. The way it’s mapped out, it’s Rick in Game 3 and maybe Nate [Eovaldi] Game 4.
“But Nate might come in in the eighth again. If we have a chance to be up 3-0 with him on the mound and Craig [Kimbrel], we’ll do it. And then we’ll figure out Game 4. That’s the beauty of the playoffs.
“It’s actually fun because you map out everything over 162 games and you give guys rest and take care of guys, but now it’s like pedal to the metal. And whatever happens that day, we’ll take it. He’s been amazing for us.”
Eovaldi, the former Dodgers farmhand, has played a pivotal role in helping the Red Sox jump out to a 2-0 lead in the World Series. He’s tossed two perfect innings against Los Angeles thus far, successfully bridging the gap to closer Craig Kimbrel in Games 1 and 2.
Should Eovaldi pitch in Game 3, other starting options the Red Sox can consider for Game 4 include Drew Pomeranz and Eduardo Rodriguez.
