Beltran draws start at DH against Red Sox’s Fister in Game 3
BOSTON — Astros manager A.J. Hinch telegraphed what will likely be his only personnel change in his Game 3 lineup when he pinch-hit Carlos Beltran for Evan Gattis in the eighth inning of Game 2.
Beltran will get his first start of this ALDS on Sunday as the Astros’ designated hitter against Red Sox righthander Doug Fister. Beltran, who singled off Craig Kimbrel in his pinch-hit appearance Friday, has hit Fister well during his career.
In 14 plate appearances against Fister, Beltran is batting .385 (5-for-13) with a home run, a double and a walk. All of those plate appearances have come in the last two seasons.
Gattis is 3-for-6 in the ALDS. He has two doubles, both against Chris Sale in Game 1, and two walks. He’s 2-for-8 lifetime against Fister.
Though Gattis batted fifth in the Astros’ order, Beltran will probably bat seventh. Hinch’s biggest lineup decision will be whether to move Josh Reddick up to his customary two-hole against righthanders and drop Alex Bregman to the Nos. 5 or 6 spot.
Bregman is 3-for-9 with a homer and a double in the ALDS and 3-for-3 with a homer and a double against Fister. Reddick is 2-for-7 in the ALDS and 6-for-23 with two doubles in his career off Fister.
Odds and ends
The Astros never have swept a postseason series. Their three postseason series wins, the NLDS wins against the Braves in 2004 and 2005 came via 3-2 and 3-1 victories and their NLCS win against the Cardinals in 2005 was a 4-2 triumph. …
These Astros are one of only three teams to win each of the first two games of a postseason series by six runs or more, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In the 1937 World Series, the New York Yankees beat the New York Giants by 8-1 scores in each of Games 1 and 2, and the 1997 Orioles beat the Mariners by 9-3 scores in the ALDS. Both won their respective series. …
Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts is “full go” to play Sunday despite prematurely exiting Friday’s game, Boston manager John Farrell said.
“He went through some treatment today, so he responded,” Farrell said Saturday. “He had a little bit of a zinger in the hand in that at-bat, his last atbat. But he’s going to take BP here today, so he’s full go.” …
John Farrell said he anticipated David Price being available out of the bullpen again Sunday. Price threw 38 pitches over his 22⁄3 scoreless innings of relief in Game 2. Given the Red Sox facing elimination, Farrell also didn’t rule out the possibility of using Game 1 starter Chris Sale out of the bullpen Sunday. …
The Astros will host a free watch party at Minute Maid Park, starting at 11:30 a.m., for Sunday’s Game 3 of the ALDS. The potential series clincher begins at 1:38 p.m. Attendees need to claim a Postseason Watch Party voucher at www.astros. com/postseason/festivities or at any of the Postseason Watch Party entrances at the ballpark. …
Individual tickets for potential American League Championship Series games at Minute Maid Park go on sale to the general public at noon Monday. Tickets will be available for purchase exclusively at www.astros. com/postseason.