BOSTON -- Though the Red Sox won't know who they are playing until the conclusion of tonight's American League Wild Card Game between the Yankees and Athletics, they are getting closer to finalizing the rotation and roster.
• ALDS presented by T-Mobile, Game 1: Fri., 7:32 p.m. ET on TBS
Manager Alex Cora said Tuesday it is basically set that righty Nathan Eovaldi will pitch Game 4 (if necessary) of the AL Division Series if the opponent is the Yankees. However, lefty Eduardo Rodriguez is at least in the mix if the Red Sox face the Athletics.
:: ALDS schedule and results ::
"We do feel if it's New York, Nate will pitch Game 4," said Cora. "We're pretty sure. I don't want to say 100 percent, but it's getting close to that. With the A's, we're still digging in information. We're getting close to what we want to do against them. Don't get me wrong, it's not like we've been lazy or just hanging out, but it's different. It's a team that I know we played them early, and you guys know how I feel about them, but it's a different team now. We still have to make decisions about that."
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Regardless of which pitcher gets the nod for Game 4, Eovaldi and Rodriguez will both be available out of the bullpen in Game 1. Cora announced on Sunday that Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello will start the first three games, respectively.
As far as the roster goes, Christopher Johnson and Hector Velazquez, two invaluable swingmen all season, were informed by Cora they won't be part of the mix for the ALDS, which begins Friday.
Both pitchers will stay with the team and keep throwing in the event of an injury.

"At the same time, I let them know they were very important. No chance we survive pitching-wise without them accepting their roles and using them in different roles [this season]," said Cora. "They should be proud of what they did and they're going to stay ready. They're going to be ready if something happens, and [they] are guys that will be in the conversation throughout the month."
There now appear to be four candidates vying for the final two spots in the bullpen, a list that includes Joe Kelly, Brandon Workman, Bobby Poyner and Richard Hembree. The only lefty in that group is Poyner.

The position-player group is set, and Cora informed Brandon Phillips that he wouldn't be part of the mix. The veteran, who hit a big homer to spark a comeback win in Atlanta on Sept. 5, flew home and won't be with the team for the entire postseason.
First baseman Sam Travis, utility man Tzu-Wei Lin and lefty specialist Robby Scott will all fly to Fort Myers, Fla., and stay in shape down there in case the club decides to activate them for future rounds.
Sale makes adjustments
Originally, Sale was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Monday. The Red Sox instead had him throw on flat ground so he could work on the mechanical issues he's been having. Sale did throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, albeit indoors due to the rain.
"[Monday] was good," said Cora. "It's something that, honestly, it's not a huge adjustment; he saw it firsthand and it should be easy to fix. He'll go through it today. They have all the cool stuff out there as far as Trackman and video, so we can compare with the information we have in hand. And hopefully it's close to what we want or the way we want it, and he'll get extension on Friday and see where we go."

Sale's velocity was significantly down in his final start of the regular season, ranging from the high 80s to low 90s, which set off some alarm bells. Due to inflammation in his left shoulder, Sale was limited to 17 innings after July 31.
• Cora: Sale's issues are mechanics, not health
"We do feel if the mechanics are close or perfect, the velocity will come with it," Cora said. "The fact that he came to me right away after the game was over and he felt it on the mound and he saw it on the video, I'm like, 'OK, this is mechanics.' He's been going through his progress the right way. It's nothing compared to what it was the first time he went on the DL and the days after Baltimore, so that's why I'm 100 percent sure he's healthy and he's going to be fine."
Watch party
The Red Sox will be together as a group when they find out who they will be playing in the ALDS.
Cora has set up a team-bonding dinner that will double as a watch party tonight.
"We actually are going to meet as a team," said Cora. "There are going to be a few TVs of course, we're all baseball fans and we want to watch the game. But it's more like the thing we did in Tampa before the season started, to have everybody together to talk about the regular season and turn the page and be ready for Friday."