Last-minute roster and rotation decisions still to be made; Pedroia as Sox' elder stateman in playoffs; Verlander on Sox.

HOUSTON – As is their habit in such matters, the Red Sox don’t intend to reveal anything about their final roster for the ALDS until they absolutely have to. Rosters must be submitted Thursday morning, and the Sox intend to take every last minute before making their decisions public.

“We’re still working through a number of the individual conversations,’’ said John Farrell. “We won’t have anything further until (Thursday) morning.’’

Farrell again reiterated that there will be some tough calls and difficult discussions in informing players they won’t be part of the roster.

“They can be very difficult,’’ acknowledged Farrell, “particularly when you’ve got a player who’s been a contributor all of this year, or the past couple of years. All you can try to do is be as candid and honest and forthright as possible with the reasons that might go into a roster decision. You have full respect for who they are as a person and what they’ve done here.

“And yet some of that might entail (going with) the hot hand, so to speak. Or, in our case, we’ve got some infield depth that we have to keep because of (the uncertain physical conditions of both Dustin Pedroia and Eduardo Nunez). Those are real (tangible) things we have to guard against.’’

The Sox still have not announced their choice to start Game 3, but the manager hinted that a decision was drawing nearer.

“I think we’re getting closer to that,’’ he said. “But that’s all part of the conversations that are ongoing.’'

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Justin Verlander draws the Game 1 assignment for the Astros against the Red Sox, a team he hasn’t faced since June, when he was pitching for Detroit.  “I think they have a very talented lineup, from top to bottom,’’ Verlander said. “I’m going to have to be on my toes the whole game, however long I’m out there. You just go out there and pick your pitches – that’s what it comes down to as a starting pitcher. You’ve got to make your pitches and in the playoffs, it’s a little bit different, I think, than in certain regular season games where you really kind of focus on getting as deep as possible into the game.

“In these games, it’s stay out there as long as you can without letting up runs. Whether it’s five, six or nine (innings), I think the runs are of utmost importance. But this (Red Sox) lineup presents a lot of difficulties. They don’t strike out a lot, they put the bat on the ball and any of them can do damage at any time. They can all run well. They’re here for a season. And good pitching beats good hitting, though, and I just need to focus on making my pitches and hopefully come out successful.

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The last time the Red Sox reached the post-season, David Ortiz was the face of the franchise. Now, with Ortiz in retirement, second baseman Dustin Pedroia is the longest-tenured member of the team, and the de facto leader.

“David was there for a long time and it was weird at the beginning,’’ said Pedroia.  “But we’ve gone through a whole season without him. Our team has formed its own identity. We’re not really focused on that. We’re focused on trying to compete and win games together. We’re not thinking about anything else.’’

Pedroia has played 47 post-games – the equivalent of nearly a third of a regular-season schedule – and is well-versed on what to expect.

“It’s about anything you can do to help the team win,’’ said Pedroia. “It doesn’t matter if you lead off the game and have a 15-pitch at-bat and you strike out. You’re 0-for-1 in the box score, but that at-bat is crucial to helping your team win. That’s what it’s about. It doesn’t matter about anything else. It’s about doing anything you can, little thing-wise – backing up bases, doing one more thing than the other team to help you win a game. That’s the playoffs.’’

Pedroia said the young core of teammates – Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts – got their indoctrination a year ago in the post-season and will be ready for it this time.

“I think last year was a good learning experience for a lot of the guys who went through losing in the playoffs,’’ said Pedroia. “That’s what you push for during the year. You look at the great teams and they make their own breaks.
“It’s the same game. It’s just you’ve got to come in the media room and talk before games, and you have practice days – things like that. But it’s the same game. You just have to find a way to be one run better than the other team.’’

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Farrell suggested the Sox will likely stay with Xander Bogaerts as their leadoff hitter in the post-season. Bogaerts moved to the top spot in mid-September with both Nunez and Pedroia – two other possibilities – battled injuries and performed well in that spot.

“That would be the intent,’’ said Farrell. “He’s responded well. We’re seeing much more consistent, hard contact. So right now, that’s the thought.’’

Farrell further added that the Sox will keep the same battery combinations they utilized during the season, meaning Sandy Leon would catch Chris Sale in Game 1.