Just over three weeks remain in the regular season, time enough for the Red Sox' decision-making on their ALDS roster to come into focus.
With a playoff bid all but clinched and a rather comfortable division lead in hand, there will be plenty of time for Alex Cora, Dave Dombrowski and others staffs to determine who's part of the 25-man staff for the first-round matchup against (almost certainly) either the New York Yankees or Oakland A's.
But this seemed like a good time to offer our own guess. Understanding that health and injuries can play a factor in early October, here's how it looks from here, for now:
STARTING PITCHERS: (4)
Chris Sale, David Price, Eduardo Rodriguez, Rick Porcello.
It may not be optimum to have three lefty starters -- either in a series that will feature as many as two games at Yankee Stadium, or against a righty-heavy Oakland lineup -- but there's no getting away from the fact that the Red Sox' three best starters this year (Sale, Price and Rodriguez) have all been southpaws. And there's certainly no rationale to go with Nathan Eovaldi over any of the lefties.
Sale, assuming he's fully recovered from the shoulder inflammation that has limited him to just one start since Aug. 1, is the obvious Game 1 choice. His playoff debut was a disaster in Game 1 of the ALDS before coming back to pitch effectively in relief later in Game 4. Price's spotty postseason history (no wins as a starting pitcher) is well-documented -- is this the year the narrative changes? Rodriguez has never gotten a postseason start, but has the stuff to be successful. Efficiency -- never a strong suit for him -- may be less important in the postseason, with scheduled days off. Porcello's track record in October isn't much better (5.47) than Price's.
BULLPEN (7)
Craig Kimbrel, Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly, Steven Wright, Brandon Workman, Brian Johnson
TOUGHEST OMISSIONS: Nathan Eovaldi, Heath Hembree
A year ago, the Red Sox went with seven relievers, so let's assume they go with the same math this time.
Of the seven relievers, Johnson's spot would seem most tenuous. But while Cora has maintained that he doesn't necessarily want a lefty just for the sake of having a lefty, it would seem the Sox would want at least one in the bullpen -- if only to give the opposing manager something to think about. Additionally, Johnson is stretched out enough that he can provide multiple innings in the event a starter gets knocked around early.
Next most vulnerable would appear to be Workman, but Cora has demonstrated some confidence in him in the second half and Workman has mostly justified that faith.
It's tough to not have Eovaldi on the staff -- a move that would have been unthinkable after he began his Red Sox career with 15 straight scoreless innings. If Eovaldi can make some necessary mechanical adjustments and shows he can adapt to the bullpen (he's made just seven relief appearances in his career, none since 2016), he would be an intriguing righty matchup weapon, given his velocity and ability to get swings-and-misses. For now, however, he would appear to be on the outside looking in.
Hembree has been a valuable piece to bring into games with runners on base (26-of-33 stranded), but that might be a luxury for which the Sox don't currently have room.
CATCHERS (3)
Sandy Leon, Christian Vazquez, Blake Swihart
To the question -- can the Red Sox really carry three catchers in the postseason? -- the answer is: why not? They've done it virtually all year.
And unlike earlier this season, there's reason to justify it. For the first half of the year, Swihart was virtually a non-factor, serving more as a utility man who could catch in an emergency. He's subsequently proved himself as a trustworthy receiver who can do some damage with the bat. He's also fast enough to serve as a pinch-runner off the bench, a consideration since the Sox won't have a Rajai Davis-type on this fall's roster.
Leon has been brutal at the plate for the past month, but has a reputation for being a superb game-caller/handler of staff. And given his comfort level with and importance to Sale, he's a lock.
Vazquez could be vulnerable here. He's provided very little offensively with a .560 OPS and his defense has been sloppy at times. Still, having three catchers enables the Sox to use Swihart to pinch-run, or contribute at another position.
INFIELD (7)
Mitch Moreland, Steve Pearce, Ian Kinsler, Xander Bogaerts, Eduardo Nunez, Rafael Devers, Brock Holt
Moreland is the starting first baseman, Kinsler is at second and Bogaerts at short. Nunez appears to have won the third base battle, and Pearce is a key bat against lefties. Holt would seem a safe choice, thanks to his lefty bat and ability to play virtually anywhere.
The question: has Devers played himself off the roster because of his inconsistency at the plate and lack of dependability at third? Perhaps, especially if newcomer Brandon Phillips continues to impress with his at-bats and adds to his versatility by showing that he can handle first base.
If nothing else, the ability to provide power off the bench makes Devers attractive. But he's by now means a lock here in the final month.
OUTFIELD (4):
Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez.
Martinez is listed with the outfielders here since he occasionally plays a corner spot, though it's hard to see him doing anything other DHing in the ALDS and ALCS. The other three regular outfielders are locks. Holt could also contribute here in a pinch, as could Swihart and Pearce.
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