Red Sox Insider Predicts ‘Surprise’ Pitcher To Make Wild Card Roster

The Boston Red Sox are set to go on the road to play the New York Yankees in a best-of-three Wild Card series.

Ahead of the playoff matchup, the Red Sox will have some intriguing roster decisions to make. Boston can take up to 13 pitchers, but 12 is more likely, given that the Red Sox only need three starters, so Boston will likely have nine relievers.

With the Yankees’ lefty-heavy lineup, the Red Sox are likely to have multiple left-handed pitchers out of the bullpen. Red Sox writer Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic expects Boston to carry left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino on the roster.

“The Red Sox figure to skew toward lefties against the Yankees’ lineup,” McCaffrey wrote. “Bernardino could be a surprise addition. The lefty has been out since Sept. 12 with elbow neuritis.

“But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said last week that Bernardino’s symptoms have subsided,” McCaffrey added. “He’s been ramping up in Fort Myers, Fla., where several players from Triple A and the IL have been staying ready for the postseason. Bernardino has experience and has held lefties to a .580 OPS this season. If he’s ready, he could get the nod.”

The 33-year-old went 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 55 games this season with the Red Sox. However, Bernardino is 0-1 with an 11.17 ERA in his career against the Yankees.

Game 1 of Red Sox-Yankees begins Tuesday at 6:08 p.m. ET.