How Dusty Baker is shuffling Houston Astros lineup for Game 4 of ALCS
MAKING MOVES
19 October 2023
MAKING MOVES
Uncle Mike is out of the lineup for Game 4. Composite Getty Image.
Manager Dusty Baker pushed all the right buttons for Game 3 of the ALCS, as the Astros were able to put 8 runs on the board against the Rangers.
But with a left-handed pitcher on the mound for Game 4, Michael Brantley is out of the lineup.
Game 4.
đź•–: 7:03 PM
📺: @FS1
đź“»: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM pic.twitter.com/YKjZq1Ap4Y
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 19, 2023
Chas McCormick is replacing Brantley in left field and hitting 7th behind Kyle Tucker. And Mauricio Dubon will be playing center while hitting in the 2 hole with Uncle Mike out of the lineup. Let's hope adding more righties to the lineup pays big dividends for Baker and the Astros.
Pitching matchup
Jose Urquidy is taking the mound for Houston against Rangers pitcher Andrew Haney.
One other adjustment has been made for the game. The roof will now be open in Arlington, per Brian McTaggart.
Dusty Baker on roof being open: “We were told there was an agreement we wouldn’t have the roof open in either place. I don’t know what changed.”
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) October 19, 2023
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis GarcĂa allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until RamĂłn UrĂas doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.