ALCS GAME AT A GLANCE
Astros-Red Sox Game 3 preview: Home sweet home
Oct 16, 2018, 5:17 am
Dallas Keuchel will have the home fans behind him today. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images
After the tough loss in Game 2, the Astros bring the ALCS home to Houston for Game 3 this afternoon. With the series tied, it's now a best-of-5 series, with this first of those five being of utmost importance to both teams. Check back on SportsMap right after the game for a full-game recap:
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Minute Maid.
TV: TBS.
Streaming: TBS App.
Pitching matchup: Dallas Keuchel vs. Nathan Eovaldi.
Series: Tied 1-1.
The breakdown: Inside what is sure to be a loud, roof-closed Minute Maid Park, we will see a matchup of the middle of both rotations in Dallas Kuechel for the Astros and Nathan Eovaldi for the Red Sox. Eovaldi had a great start in ALDS Game 3 between the Red Sox and Yankees, going seven full innings during which he allowed just one run as Boston went on to blow out the Yankees 16-1. Keuchel's start in Houston's ALDS Game 3 was not quite as impressive, five innings of two-run baseball including what was at the time a go-ahead home run for the Indians before Houston's offense bailed him out later in the game. That was in Cleveland, though, while this will be at home where historically Keuchel has had good success. Hopefully, we will see some vintage Keuchel with a lot of groundballs and solid defense behind him to keep Boston's offense at bay while the Astros bats score some run support behind him.
Series schedule:
| Result / Date & Time | Location | Pitching matchup | |
| Game 1 | Astros 7, Red Sox 2 | Boston | Verlander (W) vs. Sale (ND) |
| Game 2 | Astros 5, Red Sox 7 | Boston | Cole (L) vs. Price (ND) |
| Game 3 | Today, 4:00 PM | Minute Maid | Keuchel vs. Eovaldi |
| Game 4 | Wed. 10/17, 7:30 PM | Minute Maid | Morton+ vs. TBD |
| Game 5 | Thu. 10/18, 7:00 PM | Minute Maid | Verlander+ vs. TBD |
| Game 6* | Sat. 10/20, 4:00 PM | Boston | Cole+ vs. TBD |
| Game 7* | Sun. 10/21, 6:30 PM | Boston | TBD vs. TBD |
* Games 6-7 are if necessary.
+-projected starters.
Jalen Green scored 35 points, Alperen Sengun added 24 points and 13 rebounds and the Houston Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-115 on Friday night.
Green finished 12 of 24 from the floor and was 5 of 11 on 3-pointers. Amen Thompson finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Houston, which shot 50%, including 13 of 26 on 3-pointers.
Jabari Smith Jr had 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench in his first game back after missing 22 games with a broken bone in his left hand.
Anthony Edwards scored 37 points on 13-of-32 shooting, including 4 of 14 on 3-pointers. Edwards scored 25 points in the first half on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3 of 7 on 3-pointers.
Naz Reid had 22 points and eight rebounds, Jaden McDaniels added 21 points and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 16 points for Minnesota, which shot 45%, including 11 of 39 on 3-pointers.
Takeaways
Timberwolves: Mike Conley returned to the lineup after missing four games with a sprained right index finger, but he was in foul trouble for most of the night and finished with five points in 24 minutes.
Rockets: One area that coach Ime Udoka pointed to before the game where Smith’s return would help was rebounding. Houston outrebounded the Timberwolves 48-35.
Key moment
Tied at 108, Green made a 3-pointer with five minutes remaining to kickstart Houston’s 9-2 run to open up a seven-point lead with 48 seconds left.
Key stat
Edwards was 1 for 6 in the fourth quarter, including 1 of 4 on 3-pointers. He scored 3 points in the quarter as Houston sent double teams at him.
Up next
Minnesota hosts Oklahoma City on Sunday night, while Houston travels to Utah on Saturday night.