MLB playoffs 2018: Why Red Sox’s Brock Holt hits for cycle, then sits vs. Yankees in ALDS Game 4

The Yankees didn’t have to worry about Brock Holt being in the lineup for Game 4 of the ALDS — because the Red Sox (improbably?) left him out of it.

NEW YORK — You’d think becoming the first person to hit for the cycle in a postseason game might get Brock Holt into the lineup the next day.

Nope.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora decided Holt wasn’t the best fit, instead putting Ian Kinsler back at second base in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.

“I told him it’s a tough league,” Holt said. “I talked to him (Tuesday) morning, and he knew. He knew where we were going. Let’s see how the game plays out.”

Cora said it was a matchup thing. The Red Sox like the righty-hitting Kinsler’s odds more against lefty Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia than Holt’s.

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Cora didn’t rule out Holt getting into the game, though.

“So he’ll be ready,” Cora said. “The way they managed the game in Game 2, if it’s a close game in the middle there, we expect Dellin (Betances) and (David) Robertson to be part of the equation and (third baseman Rafael Devers) and Brock will be ready to come into the game.”

He added, “It’s one of those that either we get to CC early and they bring the righties, or we have to grind out at-bats against CC for five innings, and we need the righties.”

Holt completed the cycle in the ninth inning when he homered to right field off Austin Romine, the Yankees’ backup catcher who was in the game only because the Yankees were down more than 10 runs.

The Yankees eventually lost, 16-1 — their most lopsided playoff loss ever.

Cora said he wasn’t tempted to start Holt, despite the historic output.

“No, not at all,” Cora said. “We’ve been doing this the whole season. Like (Monday) we felt that that was the best lineup for us was to attack (Luis) Severino, and (Monday) we feel this is the best lineup to attack CC Sabathia. He’s one of the best lefties in the big leagues. He’s a lot tougher against lefties than righties, and we’ve got a group of righties that we feel we can match up with him and take advantage of the situation.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.