How Astros manager Dusty Baker plans to attack Twins in Game 4 of ALDS

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Astros Chas McCormick, Dusty Baker
Chas McCormick is back in the lineup for Game 4. Composite Getty Image.

Coming off a 9-1 win over the Twins in Game 3 of the ALDS, Astros manager Dusty Baker is shaking up his lineup once again. Mauricio Dubon and Yainer Diaz were both in the lineup for Game 3, but won't be starting in Game 4.

Screenshot via: MLB.

Chas McCormick returns to the lineup to play center field, and Yordan Alvarez will DH with Michael Brantley playing left field. Removing Yainer Diaz from the lineup doesn't come as a surprise, he struggled in Game 3 going 0-5 with 4 strikeouts.

On paper, this looks like one of the strongest offensive lineups that the Astros can unleash on Twins starter Joe Ryan (11-10, 4.51 ERA).

For Houston, Jose Urquidy (3-3, 5.29 ERA).will make the start against the Twins. He has a postseason ERA of 3.72 over 12 games.



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Houston Rockets keep rolling as VanVleet torches Heat

Rockets defeat the Heat, 102-98. Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images.

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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