NEW YORK — Brock Holt isn’t a big math guy, but he knows 1-for-15 against Luis Severino isn’t a great track record. So when Red Sox manager Alex Cora texted Holt Sunday night that he would start Monday’s ALDS Game 3 against the Yankees’ ace, Holt texted back: “Are you sure?”
Cora was. He generally is. And this season, the rookie manager’s gut—combined with his preparation—has generally paid off. On Monday he shuffled his lineup, starting Rafael Devers over Eduardo Núñez at third base, Steve Pearce over Mitch Moreland at first, Holt over Ian Kinsler at second and Christian Vázquez over Sandy León at catcher.