The Boston Red Sox will have one of their top sluggers available when they open the American League Division Series on Thursday. JD Martinez, who missed the Wild Card Game earlier this week with an ankle injury, is on Boston’s ALDS roster, the team announced. His exact availability is unclear at this point, but he’s not in the starting lineup for Game 1.
Martinez sprained his left ankle in the regular season finale Sunday when he slipped on second base as he ran out to his position in right field. He was not on the Wild Card Game roster and Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters, including Christopher Smith of MassLive.com, the injury is “very serious,” adding Martinez will continue to get treatment throughout the week.
The Red Sox used Kyle Schwarber at DH and Bobby Dalbec at first base in the Wild Card Game. They have the lineup set the same way in Game 1 of the ALDS. If Martinez is unable to play the field whenever the Red Sox feel comfortable getting his bat in the lineup, it would either push Schwarber into the outfield, or relegate either Schwarber or Dalbec to the bench. It’s possible Martinez will not be available until late in the ALDS, but teams can’t activate players mid-series, so the Red Sox had to add him prior to Game 1.
All-Star closer Matt Barnes was among the players the Red Sox dropped from their roster for the ALDS. Barnes struggled greatly in the second half and was demoted to low-leverage work, and he struggled in those outings as well. Chris Sale was added to the roster along with Martinez. He is scheduled to start Game 2 on Friday.
Boston defeated the rival Yankees in the Wild Card Game to punch their ticket to the ALDS. They’ll face the AL East rival Rays in the best-of-five series beginning Thursday. Here’s how you can watch Game 1.
