Red Sox manager slows talk of Mookie Betts playing second base

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is slowing down the talk of Mookie Betts playing second base during the World Series.

The Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato said over the weekend that Betts might play some second base during the World Series so that the Red Sox would not lose DH JD Martinez’s bat when they play at Dodger Stadium under the NL rules. Now Cora is saying the chances of that happening are slim.

Alex Cora has slowed down the Mookie Betts at second base conversation. Said chances are slim. If they use him there, most likely will be for an inning or two to give the lineup flexibility in the midst of pinch-hitting appearances.

— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) October 23, 2018

Though Betts, 26, has played the outfield almost his entire career with the Red Sox, he played second base mostly during his minor league career. He did play 14 games at second in 2014 and one game at the position this season.

Boston has a good problem of having plenty of options. They have Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Betts as their three outfielders, with Martinez as their DH. Betts, Benintendi and Martinez are top-of-the-lineup guys, so you don’t want to bench them. Bradley also drove in nine runs against Houston and was ALCS MVP, so you don’t want to sit him either while he’s hot.

Seeing how Cora handles his lineup in Los Angeles will be one of the big topics of conversation during the Fall Classic.