BOSTON — Mookie Betts, World Series second baseman, is sounding less and less likely.
Sox manager Alex Cora ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday called the proposition “very slim.” The Sox will lose the designated hitter at Dodger Stadium in Games 3 and 4 and Game 5, if necessary.
If the Sox slid Betts to second base, they could keep both Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi in the lineup in all games. Otherwise, one of those two is bound to sit, as regular designated hitter J.D. Martinez moves into the outfield at one of the corners. Bradley was the ALCS MVP.
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“But he’s prepared,” Cora said of Betts. “He’s the best defensive right fielder in the big leagues. He’s not going to be the best defensive second baseman in the big leagues. You start moving a lot of parts, it looks like, obviously offensively, we can keep everybody together. But at the same time, is it worth it putting him at second?
“We don’t throw too many ground balls, they don’t hit too many ground balls. I’m not worried about him making the plays, but in the outfield he’s that good.”
Boston Red Sox
Betts would likely be in center field at Dodger Stadium, with Martinez at one of the corners. Martinez is certainly going to play every game. With a lefty on the mound, the Sox may want the better defender in left field at Dodger Stadium to defend against pull hitters, which doesn’t have any wacky dimensions.”
“Most likely it’s going to be like we did in the second part of the season,” Cora said. “Benny will play left, Mookie plays center, J.D. plays right. And then, J.D. plays left, Jackie plays center, and Mookie plays right.
“Whatever we go, it’s going to be about match-ups, who’s swinging the bat, who’s not, or how we feel about that match-up.”
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