ALCS GAME AT A GLANCE

Astros-Red Sox Game 3 preview: Home sweet home

Astros-Red Sox Game 3 preview: Home sweet home
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.

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Allen had high praise for Diggs. Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images.

Impersonal as it might seem to have their dynamic on-field relationship end with an exchange of phone texts, Bills quarterback Josh Allen made it clear on Thursday how much receiver Stefon Diggs meant to him during their four seasons together in Buffalo.

Allen made no mention of Diggs’ mercurial temperament or the occasional sideline flare-ups by expressing only praise in his first opportunity to discuss his now-former teammate being traded to the Houston Texans earlier this month.

“Just thanking him for everything that he did for me, and (I’ll) always have a spot in my heart for him. I’ll always love that guy like a brother. And I wish him nothing but the best,” Allen said, in disclosing what he texted to Diggs. “My lasting memory of Stef will be the receiver that helped me become the quarterback that I am today.”

Brought together in March 2020, when Buffalo gave up a first-round draft pick to acquire Diggs in a trade with Minnesota, the duo went on to re-write many of Buffalo's single-season passing and scoring records, and lead the team to four straight AFC East titles.

Diggs, now 30, also brought an inescapable sense of drama with him in raising questions about his commitment to the Bills and whether his tight relationship with Allen had soured.

A day before being traded, Diggs posted a message, “You sure?” on the social media platform X in response to someone suggesting he wasn’t essential to Allen’s success.

Whatever hard feelings, if any, lingered as Buffalo opened its voluntary workout sessions this week were not apparent from Allen or coach Sean McDermott, who also addressed reporters for the first time since Diggs was traded.

“Stef’s a great player, really enjoyed our time together. Won a lot of games and he was a huge factor in winning those games. We’ll miss him,” McDermott said. “You never replace a player like Stef Diggs, and we wish him well.”

Allen turned his focus to the future and a Bills team that spent much of the offseason retooling an aging and expensive roster.

Aside from trading Diggs, salary cap restrictions led to Buffalo cutting respected center Mitch Morse, the breakup of a veteran secondary that had been together since 2017, and the team unable to afford re-signing No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis.

“I don’t think it’s a wrong thing or a bad thing to get younger,” said Allen, entering his seventh NFL season. “I think it’s an opportunity for myself to grow as a leader. And to bring along some of these young guys and new guys that we’ve brought in to our team. And that’s an opportunity, frankly, that I’m very excited about."

Despite the departures, the Bills offense is not exactly lacking even though general manager Brandon Beane is expected to target selecting a receiver with his first pick — currently 28th overall — in the draft next week.

Receiver Khalil Shakir enters his third year and tight end Dalton Kincaid enter his second following promising seasons. Buffalo also added veteran experience in signing free agent receiver Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins.

While Beane acknowledged the Bills lack a true No. 1 receiver, he noted there’s less urgency to fill that spot now than in 2020 because of how much the offense has developed under Allen.

“Now that Josh has ascended to the player he is, is that a requirement? I don’t think so,” Beane said.

Diggs’ role also began diminishing in the second half of last season, which coincided with Joe Brady replacing Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator. Brady placed an emphasis on adding balance to a pass-heavy attack and getting more receivers involved, which led to an uptick in production for Shakir and Kincaid.

While Diggs’ numbers dropped, Buffalo’s win total increased.

With the Bills at 6-6, Diggs ranked third in the NFL with 83 catches, seventh with 969 yards and tied for third with eight TDs receiving. Buffalo then closed the season with five straight wins in which Diggs combined for 24 catches for 214 yards and no scores.

”(Diggs) meant a lot. You look at the statistics, they don’t lie,” Allen said, in referring to Diggs topping 100 catches and 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons in Buffalo. “I don’t get paid to make changes on the team. I get paid to be the best quarterback that I can be and try to lead the guys on this team.”

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