McAdam: Despite 'tryout' appearances, most bullpen spots already spoken for

CLEVELAND -- It would be easy to watch the Red Sox over the past week and come away believing that manager Alex Cora and pitching coach Dana LeVangie are conducting auditions for bullpen spots on the postseason roster.

On Friday night, the Red Sox paraded eight relievers to the mound in relief of Chris Sale, tying a franchise record for most pitchers used (nine) in a nine-inning game. The night before, four relievers chipped in as the Red Sox won the division clincher in New York.

But Cora chuckles when it's suggested that this is part of some ongoing evaluation on the part of the team. In truth, it seems, most of the choices have been determined.

On Saturday, for the second time in as many days, Cora went out of his way to make that point.

"Honestly, it's not like we're trying to test people now,'' said Cora. "Like I said (Friday), we have a pretty good idea of how we're going to do it in October.''

That said -- and with the supposition that the Sox will have an 11-man pitching staff for the ALDS -- he's how the bullpen shakes out, with five locks, one likely member and a handful of contenders:

LOCKS

1. Craig Kimbrel: Well, duh. Kimbrel has an outside shot at matching the club's all-time save record for a season -- he's at 42; Tom Gordon had 46 in 1998. But more importantly, he's been his usual overpowering self of late. This month, he's made eight appearances with 12 strikeouts and just two walks and one hit. Five of his last six appearances have been clean (no baserunners), thanks to some mechanical tweaks and far better command with his curveball.

2. Matt Barnes: The only real issue with him was his health, as he battled inflammation in his left hip which, the Red Sox contend, contributed to a rocky August. He was the principal eighth-inning man for much of the season and he's limited opposing hitters to a .188 batting average while averaging 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

3. Ryan Brasier: There will continue to be questions about his lack of experience -- he made seven appearances in 2013 and then didn't pitch in the big leagues until the Red Sox promoted him from Pawtucket right before the All-Star break. But Brasier has been mostly excellent with a 1.74 ERA and a .181 batting average against.

4. Steven Wright: Call him what you wish -- the wild card; the Swiss army knife -- but Wright has assured himself of a place in the postseason bullpen. With Barnes healthy again and Brasier available, it doesn't appear as though he'll necessarily get any eighth-inning assignments, but he's certainly capable of serving as a bridge of sorts, capable of taking the Sox from the middle innings into the late-inning, high-leverage spot. Think of him as this year's version of David Price from a year ago. The only question: how often will his balky knee allow him to go?

5. Nathan Eovaldi: Eovaldi can be used in any manner of ways. He could be a righty matchup guy (.245 OBP). He could be an eighth-inning piece, with the ability to get swings-and-misses. Or he could be used as a starter, especially if the Red Sox draw the Yankees (14 scoreless innings) as a first-round opponent.

LIKELY

6. Brandon Workman: Workman has been highly reliable for the past six weeks -- save for an ugly night at Yankee Stadium earlier this week -- and has the ability to consistently throw strikes. Plus, Cora seems strangely obsessed with the fact that Workman is the only pitcher on the staff with World Series (2013) experience.

CONTENDERS

Much will be determined by whether the Red Sox find it necessary to have a lefty in the bullpen. Bobby Poyner might rate a slight edge over Brian Johnson if that's the case.

Otherwise, there don't seem to be any obvious candidates. Joe Kelly has pitched his way off the roster with an ERA of 11.12 in September, and Heath Hembree, who might have warranted inclusion only a few weeks ago, appears to have hit the wall. One scout watching him Friday night thought his arm slot was dragging -- often a sign of fatigue. Where once he seemed to thrive in getting out jams, he twice has been pounded for homers with inherited runners on this week.

Hector Velazquez could be a longshot if the Sox feel the need for a long man, but that seems unlikely.