Bregman shines bright when stage is gigantic

HOUSTON — Ask any Houston Astro and he’ll say the same thing: Alex Bregman was made for these moments.

The young third baseman was great for the defending champions all season, and now that the calendar has flipped to October he’s taken his play to another level, slugging two home runs to help Houston to a 2-0 lead in the American League division series against the Cleveland Indians.

“He loves the bright lights,” said George Springer, MVP of the World Series last year. “He loves the big stage … he believes he should get a hit every time or make the big play or score the big run. That’s just who he is and when you have a guy like that it makes you want to do the same thing.”

Game 3 is today in Cleveland.

The 24-year-old Bregman had the best year of his career this season, leading the AL with a career-high 51 doubles, and setting career marks by hitting .286 with 31 home runs and 103 RBI. His breakout season helped carry the offense in a year where last year’s MVP Jose Altuve and star shortstop Carlos Correa struggled with injuries.

“He brings joy to the team,” Altuve said. “He shows up here and lets everybody know he’s ready to play and … you see how he plays and you’re like, ‘OK. I want to join him, and I want to play at the same level he’s playing.’ ”

Bregman gave Houston its first run of the playoffs this season when he hit a solo home run off Corey Kluber in the fourth inning of Game 1 on Friday. It was the first of four home runs hit by the Astros in a 7-2 victory.

The Astros were up by one in Game 2 on Saturday when Bregman connected off Trevor Bauer with two outs and none on in the seventh to add some insurance in the 3-1 victory.

“This is what it’s all about,” Bregman said. “This type of baseball is a blast. Everybody in that clubhouse is living and dying on every pitch. It’s fun to play these types of games.”

Bregman, the second overall pick in the 2015 draft, hit four home runs and drove in 10 runs in his postseason debut last season to help the Astros to their first World Series title. He homered twice against the Dodgers in the World Series, and his two-out single in the 10th ended Houston’s thrilling 13-12 victory in Game 5.

Manager AJ Hinch said Bregman has a “calm heartbeat,” and he knows the Astros can always count on him when they need a big play whether it be on offense or defense.

“I love how he describes pressure. He describes pressure as a privilege,” Hinch said.