Red Sox will start Rick Porcello in Game 3

The Boston Red Sox have answered questions about who their Game 3 starter will be during the World Series.

The Red Sox had not previously announced their starter for Friday’s game in Los Angeles. That changed after the team’s 4-2 win in Game 2 of the World Series as they said Rick Porcello would make the start, as many expected.

Boston’s starters during the postseason have been Chris Sale, David Price, Porcello and Nathan Eovaldi. Sale and Price pitched in Games 1 and 2, so that took them out of the question for Game 3. Porcello, who started Game 4 of the ALCS in Houston, has not pitched since then and will be fully rested. He makes complete sense as the team’s starter for Game 3.

The bigger question for Boston has to do with their Game 4 starter. Eovaldi is an option, but he pitched in relief in both Games 1 and 2 and would not be fully rested. Red Sox manager Alex Cora also said that Eovaldi would be a possibility out of the bullpen in Game 3 if he gives them a chance to go up 3-0 in the series. Were the Red Sox to use Eovaldi in Game 3 — his third straight relief appearance — they’d figure out their Game 4 plan at a later time.

Alex Cora says Rick Porcello will start World Series Game 3 and then "maybe" Nathan Eovaldi in Game 4, explaining that if Eovaldi can help them go up 3-0 they will use him out of the pen and then figure out Game 4. https://t.co/6IJrot81cE

— Dan Mullen (@DanMullen_ESPN) October 25, 2018

Of course, if Boston goes up 3-0, they’d be in such an advantageous position that they probably wouldn’t mind throwing someone like Eduardo Rodriguez in Game 4.