During media availability prior to Wednesday night's Game 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park, Alex Cora said that righthander Nathan Eovaldi will get the ball in a game when the series moves to Los Angeles, though he wasn't sure which one.
After the flamethrowing Eovaldi came out of the bullpen in the eighth inning of Game 2's win, we now know Rick Porcello will get the start for Game 3 Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
Asked in the postgame how will Eovaldi be used in LA, Cora said, "We'll see."
"Rick [Porcello] is starting Game 3, and you never know," Cora said. "Like I've been saying all along, we're all in every day. If we feel there's a chance to close the door with them, we'll use them. The way it's mapped out, it's Rick in Game 3 and maybe Nate in Game 4, but Nate might come in in the eighth again.
"If we have a chance to be up 3-0 with him on the mound and Craig [Kimbrel], we'll do it and then we'll figure out Game 4. That's the beauty of the playoffs. It's actually fun because you map out everything over 162 games and you give guys rest and take care of guys, but now it's pedal to the metal. And whatever happens that day, we'll take it. He's been amazing for us."
Eovaldi told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal after the game he's prepared for whatever Cora decides.
"I'll be ready," he said. "I think I'll be going Game 4. I'm going to be doing everything I can now to start preparing for that start, and then take it from there."
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As for Porcello, the former Cy Young winner said he's "ready for the challenge" the Dodgers' lineup presents, lauding its versatility.
"It's the World Series. Everything's fun right now," Porcello said. "This is our third round of doing this, so there's not anything that's unexpected or surprising at this point. We know myself, Nate [Eovaldi], Chris [Sale] or DP [David Price] -- we're down in the bullpen and we're not starting that day, there's a chance we might come in. You prepare yourself mentally for that opportunity, and then when it is your start day, you get ready to go, take the ball and get as many outs as you can and pitch as deep into the game as possible."
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