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Astros: Game 3 lineup will feature postseason legend Carlos Beltran

By Eric Huysman

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros high fives Carlos Beltran #15 after the final out at Minute Maid Park on September 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 20: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros high fives Carlos Beltran #15 after the final out at Minute Maid Park on September 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Carlos Beltran will get a chance to prove he belongs in the Astros postseason lineup.

The Houston Astros are one win away from advancing to the ALCS with a win this afternoon versus the Red Sox. If they don’t win today, Game 4 will feature Chris Sale again on short rest. While the Astros proved that they could handle Sale, let’s not tempt fate twice. The Red Sox have their backs against the wall and will turn to veteran Doug Fister to save their season.

When you stop laughing, let’s take into consideration that he has a career 2.60 ERA in the playoffs. His last playoff appearance was Game 3 of the 2014 NLDS for the Washington Nationals. He pitched seven shutout innings against the Giants. That was before his career stalled out in 2015 before coming over to the Astros in 2016.

Fister moved around a lot in his career, in the AL when the Astros were in the NL and vis-versa later. After a late start to the season with the Red Sox, the Astros have not faced him much in his career. One hitter who has tons of experience versus Fister in Carlos Beltran who has only had one at-bat this postseason so far. It was a single late in Game 2, but Derek Fisher came into pinch run for Beltran. According to Jake Kaplan, Beltran will be the DH today.

Gattis out for Game 3, Beltran is in.

Evan Gattis has been a critical bat in the lineup in the first two games of the ALDS. He is batting .500 with two doubles and a 1.458 OPS. While it’s hard to take Gattis out of the lineup, Beltran will be the starting DH today versus Fister. In 13 career at-bats versus Fister, Beltran has five hits versus Fister. One of them had been a homer.

Beltran has had a proven history of success in the playoffs, stemming from his 2004 playoff run with the Astros. While Beltran is a switch hitter, at this point of career, he’s mostly a right-handed hitter versus righties on the mound.

Next: Astros are in control of the ALDS with Brad Peacock for Game 3

Beltran will most likely be pinch-hit for late in the game versus a lefty. A.J. Hinch was able to get every hitter (except Juan Centeno) into Game 2, squashing any butterflies. It looks like that will be the only change in lineup for Game 3, but no word where Beltran bats. Let’s take care of business today!

Listen to Talking Stros on SportsTalk 790 after today’s Tenth Inning show!

***Stats from Baseball-Reference***

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