Cora pumps brakes amidst Red Sox skid: ‘We should stop talking October’

With his team’s season at a crossroads, Red Sox manager Alex Cora wants to pump the brakes. And hopefully, reset. “I think we should stop talking October, to be honest with you,” said Cora on Saturday afternoon. “There’s a lot of stuff going on and we have to play better. I’m not saying we’re in a bad spot, but I think we have to wait, you know, to see if October is part of this.” The Red Sox entered Saturday 81-67, but 6-7 in their last 13 games and 17-16 since Aug. 6. They posted an MLB-best 25-6 record at home between June 4 and Aug. 16, but have since gone 3-7 at Fenway. They’re sliding down the division and Wild Card standings while other American League clubs surge uncomfortably close. Offensive production has largely evaporated in the absence of the injured Wilyer Abreu (calf) and Roman Anthony (oblique). The Red Sox entered Saturday hitting .226 with a .639 OPS in eight games since Anthony’s Sept. 2 injury. They went 3-5 in that span, and were held to one run in three of their losses. On Friday night, the Yankees no-hit them until two outs in the seventh, when Nate Eaton homered for the first time this season. It was the first of a season-low two hits by Boston in the contest, which they lost 4-1 despite being gifted five walks. They’re 2 for 24 with runners in scoring position in their last two games. Abreu ran up to 86-percent on Friday and the Red Sox expect to activate him either during the Athletics series this week at Fenway, or next weekend in Tampa. Anthony is beginning to walk on the treadmill, but the Red Sox can’t afford to wait for anyone; after Saturday, only 13 regular-season games remain. “We have to be better offensively,” said Cora. “Obviously no Willy, no Roman, it’s a different group, it’s a different lineup. But guys that are able to execute. They’ve been here the whole season, they’ve been part of it, so I think they’re capable of putting better at-bats and get the line moving.” Pitching depth is thin, too. Dustin May and Brennan Bernardino landed on the injured list this week, and Cora said Luis Guerrero “hasn’t been consistent” on his rehab assignment. The Red Sox shut down Liam Hendriks’ throwing program after he experienced forearm tightness, and he confirmed that his season is “most likely” over. “We need guys to step up,” Cora said of his bullpen. “We feel like (Justin) Slaten is getting to the point that we can use him more than what we have the last two weeks, and obviously (Greg) Weissert, he’s been a part of it the whole season. When asked if the Red Sox might carry a third catcher in October, Cora simply said, “Hopefully we have to make that decision.”