Altuve says knee feels good
CLEVELAND — A day after the sixth-inning plate appearance during which he aggravated an injured right knee, Jose Altuve hit, ran and was a full participant in the Astros’ workout day at Progressive Field.
“I feel good,” Altuve said Sunday. “Obviously, you see me testing it today because it was very important to see how I felt after that crazy play yesterday. But the results today were good, and we’re good to play.”
During Houston’s 3-1 win in Game 2, Altuve banged his knee on the dirt when he reached for an outside pitch. He dribbled the ball down the third-base line and stumbled from the batter’s box.
Altuve limped noticeably around the bases but still managed to score the game’s tying run on Marwin Gonzalez’s two-RBI double off Andrew Miller. He played defense during the final three innings without noticeable hindrance.
“We’ve been playing all year long to be in this situation we are right now: playoffs (up) 2-0,” Altuve said. “You don’t want to miss any games. You want to go out there and try to win as many games as possible and advance to the next series. I want to be part of this. There’s nothing to worry about, nothing going to keep me off the field.”
Added manager A.J. Hinch :“I think we're all happy that it's a day off. It's probably a good time for us. But I'm not expecting any problems.”
First postseason start a biggie for Clevinger
Cleveland’s Mike Clevinger has six postseason mound appearances under his belt, but Monday’s Game 3 will mark his first as a starter.
“The kind of cool thing this time,” the righthander said Sunday, “(is) I can prepare and normalize this whole process a much as possible.”
In his third big league season, Clevinger was used exclusively as a starter for the first time, going 13-8 with a 3.02 ERA. With 207 strikeouts in 200 innings, he helped give the Indians an MLB-record four starters with at least 200 K’s.
In watching the Astros win the first two games of this ALDS to put the Indians on the brink of elimination, he has seen the importance of precision pitching against them.
“Something that’s kind of eyeopening is how often they capitalize on mistake pitches,” Clevinger said. “You don’t see a lineup top to bottom really be able to do that every time you make a mistake. Homing in on two-strike pitches and paying attention to how you’re setting them up is going to be a big key.”
Now No. 2, McCann gets start in Game 3
One year after starting all but one game of the Astros’ World Series run, catcher Brian McCann is adjusting to a new role.
McCann’s 2018 postseason debut will come Monday, when he is scheduled to catch Dallas Keuchel in Game 3 at Progressive Field.
The emergence of Martin Maldonado has relegated McCann, a 14year veteran in the final year of his contract, primarily to a bench role, either as lefthanded pinch hitter or a replacement should manager A.J.
Hinch decide to hit for Maldonado. “I’m kind of getting used to it on the fly,” McCann said. “(I’m) reading the game and situations that I may come up to pinch-hit or go in late in the game just to get my preparation right and be ready at any moment.”
Through two games, Hinch has shown relucatance to remove Maldonado, given the defensive prowess he exudes. Maldonado has started both games and caught every inning. In Game 2 on Saturday, after Andrew Miller loaded the bases in the sixth, a pristine pinch-hitting situation presented itself. Trevor Bauer was summoned.
With two outs, Hinch opted to let Maldonado hit. McCann was 5-for-19 lifetime against Bauer. Tony Kemp was also on the bench. Instead, Maldonado struck out on three pitches to end the rally.
Perhaps more importantly, though, the Astros escaped with a lead. They maintained Maldonado’s shutdown defense behind the plate, and McCann was left on the bench.
“He’s certainly prepared at a moment’s notice to come in the game,” Hinch said of McCann. “It will be a different experience for him, because I know what his expectations are and his want to play every inning. But I'm really happy that we have that stability if we need him.”
Minute Maid Park to host watch parties
Beginning with Monday’s Game 3 of the American League Division Series, the Astros will host watch parties at Minute Maid Park for every postseason road game.
Gates will open Monday at 10:30 a.m., two hours before the scheduled first pitch in Cleveland. Also at 10:30, a Postseason Street Fest including live music and food trucks will begin on Crawford Street.
For entry into the ballpark, fans can claim a free Postseason Watch Party voucher at www.astros.com/postseason. Ballpark concession stands will be open.