Red Sox set rotation for start of ALCS

Author Alex Barth

October 14th, 2021 6:15 PM

With four days to prepare for the series, the Red Sox have all of their pitchers rested for Friday’s ALCS Game 1 against the Houston Astros. They’ll take advantage of that by having their two top starting pitchers take the mound for the first two games of the series.

Speaking with the media on Thursday afternoon, manager Alex Cora announced Chris Sale will start Game 1 for the Red Sox in Houston on Friday, followed by Nate Eovaldi in Game 2 on Saturday. The Astros announced their first two starters for the ALCS on Thursday as well. Lefty Framber Valdez will get things started, followed by righty Luis Garcia. Below is a breakdown of the first four starters in the series.

• Chris Sale – Game 1

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  Sale lasted just one inning in his Game 2 ALDS start against the Rays, allowing five runs on four hits in a game the Red Sox would eventually go on to win 14-6. Sale has pitched in eight playoff games in his career, starting five. He’s recorded a 7.27 ERA in 26 innings, all with the Red Sox.

• Framber Valdez – Game 1

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  Valdez was excellent for the Astros in the postseason last year, but struggled in his lone playoff start of 2021. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings against the White Sox. He made two starts against the Red Sox this year, winning both while allowing just two runs on 10 hits with 18 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.

• Nathan Eovaldi – Game 2

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  Like Sale, Eovaldi will be making his ninth postseason appearance, with the previous eight coming for the Red Sox. He’s fared much better, with a 1.93 ERA in 32.2 innings over four starts and four relief appearances. This will be his third outing of this postseason – he picked up the win after allowing just one earned run in 5.1 innings against the Yankees in the Wild Card game, then gave the Red Sox five innings and allowed two earned runs in their Game 3 ALDS win over Tampa.
• Luis Garcia – Game 2

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  Garcia also struggled against the White Sox, and was pulled after 2.2 innings having allowed five earned runs on five hits. In his lone start against Boston this year, he allowed one run in seven innings, while striking out six batters. Garcia also struggled against the White Sox, and was pulled after 2.2 innings having allowed five earned runs on five hits. In his lone start against Boston this year, he allowed one run in seven innings, while striking out six batters.

While he didn’t expand beyond those two games, Cora also said that Eduardo Rodriugez will be available out of the bullpen for Game 1. Like the Red Sox, Houston didn’t give probable starters beyond the first two games, but it was announced that Lance McCullers – who was arguably their best starting pitcher this season – will likely miss the series with forearm tightness.

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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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Author Alex Barth

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Tags:

ALCS,Alex Cora,Boston Red Sox,chris sale,MLB,nathan eovaldi,red sox