Almost exactly one year ago, the American League Division Series started with the Red Sox’ first playoff game in three years.
Hitting cleanup was one of the great postseason performers of all time. At second base, a two-time World Series champion with more than 170 playoff at-bats. At first base, a .467 hitter in two previous division series.
The rest of the Red Sox starting lineup? It had a total of 34 postseason plate appearances, and all of those belonged to a still-young shortstop who’d been a third baseman during his only other postseason exposure. Five Red Sox starters were making their postseason debuts.