Injuries to Pedroia, Nunez and Betts cloud Red Sox playoff preparation, roster decisions

Even before they know who they’re playing, when they’re playing or where they’re playing, the Red Sox have other internal issues with which they’re dealing in the season’s closing days.

A series of injuries – some minor, some more significant – have left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the franchise, making composition of the post-season roster particularly problematic.

Two key infielders – Dustin Pedroia and Eduardo Nunez – and top-of-the-lineup performers are both dealing with knee injuries. Pedroia returned to the lineup Wednesday after sitting out the previous two games because of increased inflammation.

Pedroia said the rest was preventative as much as anything, in order to preserve him for the approaching post-season schedule.

“Our goal,’’ he said Wednesday afternoon, “was to make sure that I’m playing down the stretch and be able to withstand however many innings are needed. We’ve put the work in; it’s time to deal with it.’’

In the post-season, Pedroia will at least have the benefit of scheduled off-days every two or three days, reducing his workload.

“I’ve never liked that in the past,’’ said Pedroia of the staggered scheduled, “but it will help out now.’’

Nunez, meanwhile, did some running at three-quarters speed, some light throwing work on the field and hit in the cage in an effort to return after aggravating his right knee after just three innings Monday.

But the very fact that the Sox don’t know whether – or how much – they can depend on two key players illustrates the position in which they find themselves.

“The only way I can respond to that is, you do the best you can with what you have today,’’ said John Farrell. “That’s not to slight anyone. That’s to acknowledge that we’ve got some obvious physical ailments and we’ll make the best of it. It’s an opportunity for others to step up.’’

The absence – or reduced effectiveness – may not compromise the Red Sox much over the final five regular season games. It would require an enormous confluence of circumstances for the Sox to blow their division lead.
But the shorthanded nature will doubtless impact whom the Sox choose for their ALDS roster. Can Pedroia be counted on to hold up under the demands of the post-season? Will Nunez be limited to DH duty?

Further, there’s the matter of what sort of impact the recent wrist injury to Mookie Betts impacts their best overall player and most important player.

Might the Sox have to take both Deven Marrero and Brock Holt as suitable infield replacements if they’re unsure about Pedroia and Nunez? Will they need to limit their bullpen to just seven relievers in order to have the necessary depth to protect themselves with the hobbled position players?

“It will be a consideration,’’ conceded Farrell. “It will be, do doubt, a point within the conversation on what we arrive at following Sunday. Between now and Sunday, as we’ve seen the last couple of nights,  hell, anything can go different than we stand here today. The most important thing is that guys are improving and they’re getting back to us, little by little.’’