Yankees-Red Sox wild-card rosters: Slugger J.D. Martinez left off Boston's roster
Pete CalderaBOSTON – Shades of 1978.
One more time, it's the Yankees against the Red Sox, at Fenway Park, playing for the right to advance through the postseason in Tuesday night's AL wild card game.
A few final thoughts leading up to the 8:08 p.m. first pitch, with Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole opposing Boston's Nathan Eovaldi, the ex-Yankee right-hander.
Red Sox roster missing J.D. Martinez
On Tuesday morning, the Red Sox released their wild card roster, and J.D. Martinez was not listed.
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That's a huge strike against Boston, taking out an essential middle-of-the-lineup figure, and not even carrying him on the bench for a possible pinch-hit appearance.
Obviously, Martinez's ankle injury is severe enough to force the Red Sox to add another player and not even risk using Martinez in a late-game situation.
And it was a freak injury; Martinez tripped over the second base bag Sunday at Washington, while jogging to his outfield position.
According to MLB.com Red Sox writer Ian Browne, Martinez's injury would likely lead the Sox to use Kyle Schwarber at DH and play Bobby Dalbec at first base.
This season, Martinez, 34, batted .286 with 28 homers, 42 doubles and 99 RBI.
Yankees wild card roster additions
For the one-game wild card, the Yankees have added switch-hitting outfielder Greg Allen and lefty-hitting catcher Rob Brantly to their roster.
Allen provides speed and defense off the bench and Brantly provides bench depth and the option to use Gary Sanchez as the designated hitter, though manager Aaron Boone did not seem inclined to go that route.
The Yanks' roster carries 11 relievers, including pitchers who can provide length in lefties Nestor Cortes and Lucas Luetge and possible multi-inning right-handers Michael King, Domingo German and Luis Severino.
Severino could be a key element in the late-game strategy after Cole, with Clay Holmes, Chad Green and Jonathan Loaisiga ready to bridge it to Aroldis Chapman.
Lefties Joely Rodriguez and Wandy Peralta provide matchup options.
There was no need to add starters Corey Kluber, Jordan Montgomery or Jameson Taillon to this one-game roster.
Yankees' infield shuffle
DJ LeMahieu's absence (sports hernia) could mean a return to third base for Gio Urshela in the wild card game, with Andrew Velazquez getting the start at shortstop.
That's the Yankees' best left-side infield defense, so lefty-hitting Rougned Odor could be on the bench against Red Sox's righty starter Nathan Eovaldi.
Yankees vs. Red Sox this season
The reason this game is at Fenway is the razor-thin advantage the Red Sox wound up having against the Yanks, taking the season series 10-9.
After the Red Sox won the first seven meetings this year, the Yankees won nine of the last 12 - including the critical Sept. 24-26 three-game sweep at Boston.
In their 19 regular-season games this year, the Red Sox have outscored the Yankees by one single run, 75-74.
Aaron Boone's future
Win or lose, you get the feeling that Aaron Boone is going to be back as Yankees manager next year, perhaps with a two-year offer with an option.
That's a guess, but having kept his club together and managed them into the wild card during a frenetic second half, that could be enough for an ownership/upper management team that did not seem eager to seek replacements anyway.
And a deep October run would certainly secure Boone's future with an organization that has had three managers - Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, Boone - since 1996.
Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Yankees analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.
Email: caldera@northjersey.com Twitter: @pcaldera