Dusty Baker wasn't lying about big adjustments to Astros Game 3 lineup
THAT'S BOLD
18 October 2023
Uncle Mike is hitting second Wednesday night. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
The Houston Astros have been struggling to get their bats going through the first two games of the ALCS, so manager Dusty Baker hinted some changes could be coming, and with Kyle Tucker specifically.
Our ALCS Game 3 lineup.
🕖: 7:03 PM
📺: @FS1
📻: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM pic.twitter.com/fphK8B9Wuv
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 18, 2023
Tucker hit 3rd in Game 2 of the ALCS, but he finds himself down in the 6 spot for Game 3 against Max Scherzer. One of the other changes to the lineup involves Michael Brantley. Brantley has been vaulted up to the number two spot, with Bregman now hitting 3rd.
The other big takeaway from tonight's lineup is the absence of Chas McCormick. McCormick had some rough at-bats in Game 2 of the ALCS, so Baker is opting to give Mauricio Dubon a shot in center field for Game 3.
Dubon will hit 7th behind Kyle Tucker. McCormick is actually hitting over .300 for the postseason, so he's actually playing better than it appears. However, Dubon is also one of the Astros four hitters hitting over .300 in the playoffs, so hopefully he continues to have more success on Wednesday night.
At the end of the day, the Astros will need their marquee players to step up if they want to secure a victory and eventually even the series with the Rangers. Go 'Stros!
Fred VanVleet scored 37 points and the surging Houston Rockets won their ninth straight, beating the Miami Heat 102-98 Friday night.
VanVleet shot 13 for 17 from the field and made a season-high 9 of 11 3-pointers as the Rockets extended the league’s longest active winning streak. Houston also snapped a nine-game skid against Miami, which lost its 10th straight. It is the Heat’s longest skid since they lost 11th straight in 2007-08.
Amen Thompson returned after missing the last six games because of a sprained left ankle and finished with 18 points and seven steals while Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith each added 11 points for the Rockets.
Houston rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the third quarter and got to 80-78 on Jalen Green’s jumper to close the period.
Miami’s Andrew Wiggins scored 30 points, his highest total since the Heat acquired him from Golden State for Jimmy Butler on Feb. 6. Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo also scored 16 points for the Heat.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston remained second in the Western Conference.
Heat: Miami squandered its 20th double digit lead that led to a loss. Wiggins’ jump shot two minutes into the third period put the Heat ahead 65-54 before Houston rallied.
Key moment
VanVleet went on a personal 9-2 run to start the fourth that put the Rockets ahead for good. He hit two 3-pointers, a lay-up and made 1 of 2 free throws that gave Houston an 87-84 lead.
Key stat
The Rockets outrebounded the Heat 46-34 for their eighth consecutive game of winning the rebounding edge against their opponent.
Up next
Rockets host Denver on Sunday, and Heat host Charlotte.
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