McAdam: Red Sox have so many wins...and so many unanswered questions remaining

For a team with a triple-digit win total and a double-digit lead and a division title that could be clinched as early as Sunday, the Red Sox certainly have some uncertainty surrounding them as they are about to enter the final two weeks of the season.

Even as the team chases a franchise victory record and leaves the Yankees far behind, there are issues for the Sox.

Here are three of them:



1. Third base.

It looked like the Red Sox were ready to go into the postseason with Eduardo Nunez as their everyday third baseman. While Rafael Devers spent two separate stints on the DL for parts of August and September, Nunez got hot at the plate and provided reliable defense at third. Nunez, meanwhile, leads the team in errors and has been a disappointment at the plate, especially in the second half.

But then in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, Nunez aggravated the right knee injury that first sidelined him almost exactly a year ago. Nunez got caught in a moment of indecision at first base and got his cleat stuck as he toppled over awkwardly. If you'll recall, it was exactly the same circumstance - his cleat stuck in the dirt, this time in the batter's box -- last Sept. 9 that first caused Nunez problems with the knee.

Only recently, Nunez was feeling 100 percent recovered, allowing him more stability in the field while providing a firmer foundation at the plate. Manager Alex Cora said the training staff told him that Nunez's knee was not a serious matter and considered him day-to-day. But this is all sounding eerily like last fall, when Nunez was twice cleared to return and twice suffered a relapse.

Devers offers more power with the bat and more range in the field. What he doesn't do is offer offensive consistency or defensive reliability. If Nunez is indeed healthy -- he'll sit Friday and will be evaluated further as the weekend continues -- can the Sox take both? Probably. But that doesn't settle the matter of who the starter at third will be.

2. Catching

Can the Red Sox carry three catchers on their postseason roster? The answer would seem to be an obvious one since they've done so for most of the year: Yes.

But how will the trio be utilized? Sandy Leon is the most trusted receiver by the coaches and the pitching staff and he owns a 3.23 catcher's ERA, the lowest for a qualifying Red Sox catcher since 1974. But Leon has been completely inept at the plate since the All-Star break: .094/.179/.167. On the one hand, the Red Sox are 45-17 since early July, with Leon catching the vast majority of those games. But can they afford to have such an automatic out in their lineup in the playoffs?

Strangely, just as he seemed to have convinced everyone of his readiness to handle more innings behind the plate, Blake Swihart has started just one game behind the plate since Aug. 28 as Cora tries to evaluate what he has in a healthy Christian Vazquez.

It's likely all three make the postseason roster, especially considering Swihart's versatility, speed on the bases and improved offense.

But again: do they have a No. 1 catcher identified?

3. Bullpen

And now, we get to the real intrigue.

Let's see, there's Craig Kimbrel in the closer's role. And....

That's all I've got.

Everything else is up for grabs, though, presumably, assuming Matt Barnes demonstrates that he's recovered from the inflammation in his hip, he'll be a key high-leverage option.

Beyond that? Good luck.

Among the lefties, Brian Johnson failed a big spot over the weekend against Houston. Bobby Poyner, who had been effective, gave up a homer in the eighth Thursday night. Drew Pomeranz seems forgotten. Robby Scott appears to be an afterthought.

Then there are the other high leverage options. Joe Kelly was shockingly bad Thursday, failing to retire any of the four batters he faced. He walked the first one on four pitches, then hit the final two, with the second forcing in the tying run.

Ryan Brasier will be part of the postseason roster, but remains largely untested. Steven Wright is intriguing but is an unconventional choice for high-pressure spots. Brandon Workman has looked sharp, but needs to show more.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox roll along closer to clinching, with plenty of questions still unanswered.