Gray and rested Red Sox relievers face elimination against Fried

Sonny Gray starts with Boston's season on the line Wednesday, but the Red Sox also enter Game 2 against the Yankees with three of their most important relief options unused. Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock and Garrett Crochet did not pitch in Tuesday's 9-0 loss. Boston trails the best-of-three Wild Card Series 1-0.

Gray gives the Red Sox their most consistent regular-season starter. He finished with a team-leading 2.72 ERA and 20 quality starts, according to MLB.com's Game 2 preview. The 36-year-old right-hander has a 3.26 ERA in six career postseason starts. He discussed the assignment at Tuesday's pregame press conference, carried by NESN.

The other side of the matchup makes the offensive task difficult. Max Fried allowed Boston one run over 11⅔ innings in two starts this season, including eight scoreless innings at Fenway Park in April. The Yankees left-hander also shut out Boston over 6⅓ innings in last year's Wild Card opener, though New York lost that game. He is scheduled opposite Gray again Wednesday.

Boston's bullpen usage is a separate part of the matchup. Manager Chad Tracy used five relievers in Game 1, while Chapman, Whitlock and Crochet stayed out. Matthew Gross, writing for Over the Monster after the loss, criticized that deployment in a game that was still 1-0 when Payton Tolle left in the fifth. The rested arms now remain available for the elimination game. Their availability offers Tracy options after Gray, without establishing when any of them will enter.

There is no settled answer yet about Roman Anthony. He left Game 1 with discomfort in his right hand and wrist. Tracy said after the game that the club was still discussing the next steps. MLB's Game 2 preview presents a possible lineup without him; that is a projection, not an announced absence. Boston must wait for a team update before treating his status as decided.

First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern at Yankee Stadium, with television coverage on NBC and streaming on Peacock. A Boston win forces Game 3; a Yankees win ends the series.