BOSTON — The Red Sox are in the 2018 World Series in large part because their bullpen has stepped up in a way that appeared unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely.
Matt Barnes has allowed one earned run in 6 1/3 innings on one hit, a home run. Ryan Brasier has no earned runs in seven innings. Joe Kelly’s allowed one earned run in 5 1/3 innings.
"I think everybody understood how good we were," Barnes said during the ALCS champagne celebration. "We knew what we brought to the table. There were times where we definitely slumped throughout the season, particularly later in the season, but we were ready for it. We got guys in there with electric stuff, we got guys with experience in the World Series."
They’re not successful because of the doubt that existed. But to some degree, the Sox relievers may have channeled the criticism of a group that had one of the 10 highest walk rates in the majors.
“We had our moments before these playoff started,” pitching coach Dana LeVangie said. “And I brought up some of the doubters, I put it in their mind and I challenged them: ‘There’s some that believe we’re not going to win this because of the doubters.’
“I let ‘em know that we won 108 games with them, that’s hard to do. And there’s no reason why we can’t win 11 more with the same group. They just have to perform to their capabilities. Not do anymore.”
The Sox didn’t add to their ‘pen at the deadline, a gamble that so far has not hurt them. Their shakiest regular reliever in the postseason has been Craig Kimbrel, the pitcher who was supposed to be the most stable. His lack of command on his curveball (and some pitch tipping, although the Astros really were just confident he wasn't going to throw his curveball for a strike) never derailed a game for the Sox, only came close — and he looked great to close out Game 5 of the ALCS.
Boston Red Sox
“I mean, we’re very confident in who we have,” Kimbrel said. “Everybody stepped up, pitched good at the right time.”
On the inside, the line is almost always the same: they believe in each other, and they always believed.
Sox relievers have a 3.62 ERA this postseason in 37 1/3 innings. They’ve struck out 35, walked 25 and allowed five home runs. (The Dodgers ‘pen has been the best of all: 1.30 ERA, 51 strikeouts, 13 walks, three home runs in 41 2/3 innings.)
The walks were high for the Sox in the second half, they’re high now. The Sox don’t keep the ball out of play as much as the Dodgers do. But to this point, there’s been only success.
Of 21 inherited runners for the Sox, only three have scored — and all three were in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Yankees. They’ve stranded all 14 inherited runners in the eight games since then. (The Dodgers, meanwhile, have allowed three of 16 to score.)
“For me personally, no,” LeVangie said when asked if there’s been any surprise. "We’ve done some recent clean-up with some of our guys. A little bit of mechanics stuff, a little bit of maybe hiding your pitch mix from runners on second base, being a little more discrete with some of our guys. I felt like that’s made an improvement.
"But to be honest with you, no I’m not [surprised]. These guys have sort of gotten their feet wet the last couple years and had success. It’s just a matter of time before that ever took place."
Still, even Sox manager Alex Cora expressed some doubt at points. Back in late July, for example, when asked if the Sox needed outside help.
“That’s a good question. It’s a tough question,” Cora said. “I do feel there’s a few guys in that clubhouse that we have to fix. We have to get them back to where they’re supposed to be, and we’ll be fine.”
They have been more than fine in the face of doubt, with one series to go.