Boston's strengths, concerns for postseason

The Red Sox followed one of their emptiest seasons in recent memory with one of their most compelling.

In February and March, the Sox weren’t on anyone’s short list to be one of the 10 teams that could advance beyond the regular season.

But with manager Alex Cora back in the dugout after a one-year hiatus, the culture change was obvious from the very start. Once again, Cora worked his magic to get the most out of his roster, and it led to a 92-70 record, setting up a date with the Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

Boston got off to a flying start. Remember, this team was on pace to win 100 games at the halfway point of the season.

While Cora’s club didn't sustain that, it weathered the dog days of August, then an early September COVID-19 outbreak, and found a way to October.

• AL Wild Card FAQ | Position-by-position analysis

Here is a look at what is ahead.

How do the Red Sox advance past the Wild Card Game?
By getting a strong start from Nathan Eovaldi and a relentless performance by an offense that underachieved down the stretch but is still capable of dominance. The big bats need to take the pressure off a bullpen that has been called on a lot of late.

Rafael Devers got hot in the final two games of the regular season, including two home runs in Sunday's 7-5, playoff-clinching victory over Washington at Nationals Park. That was a monumental development given how much of an impact hitter he is when he is going well.

Even if Eovaldi and the offense do their jobs, the bullpen will likely be required to get big outs. Cora went to an all-hands-on-deck mentality for the final few games of the regular season, and it seemed to bring out the best out of a bullpen that has been inconsistent.

What does the blueprint for a championship run look like?
When the Red Sox have been at their best, the starting rotation has been a stabilizing force. Eovaldi is the one starter who has been consistent all season.

Ace Chris Sale initially pitched very well in his return from Tommy John surgery, but he wasn’t great against the Orioles in his penultimate regular-season start, and he lacked command Sunday in his abbreviated start in Game 162 against the Nationals. It’s hard to imagine the Red Sox going far if Sale isn’t a reliable force in the rotation.

Eduardo Rodriguez has pitched his best baseball of the season down the stretch, and he’ll need to keep doing that. Nick Pivetta, the team’s No. 4 starter, has been hit or miss. Boston needs the good Pivetta in October.

Cora loves using his starting pitchers as rovers in the bullpen during the postseason. This strategy helped the Red Sox win a World Series championship in 2018. Expect Cora to again be aggressive with his starting pitchers as relievers.

What is one reason for concern?
Defense. It looked like a fatal flaw for the Red Sox many times this season, but they overcame it enough to get to the postseason. Teams that don’t play clean baseball in October very seldom last very long. Boston made 108 errors this season, more than any MLB team except the Marlins. Given that range isn’t a strength for the Sox, either, they at least need to handle the balls hit to them. The Red Sox ranked last in MLB with minus-39 outs above average.

Devers, Boston’s most dynamic player at the plate, is far too adventurous at third base. He made 22 errors. Toronto’s Bo Bichette, a shortstop, is the only AL player who made more. Though Hunter Renfroe led MLB with 16 outfield assists, he also made 12 errors, many of them caused when he was too aggressive in trying to get a runner or throwing to the wrong base.