Gamethread: Red Sox at Astros, ALCS Game 3

Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros, ALCS Game 3 (4:09 CT, TBS)

Based on the first two games in Boston and the overall shape of the Red Sox pitching staff, it’s hard to see how the 108-win Sawx can even get out of Houston alive, much less win the series. However, the Astros are a bit banged up, with Jose Altuve starting at DH today due to a knee banged up in the ALDS.

Perhaps offsetting Altuve’s limp is the remarkable postseason so far for Alex Bregman. Besides all of his walk “heroics,” he’s been OK against Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi:

Eovaldi gets the ball for Boston, pitching well enough to be unconcerned about Bregman’s DEFCON 1 Instagram trolling. For those concerned with Michael Kopech, well, Eovaldi has had like 12 surgeries in his young career and still managed to throw seven balls at 100 mph-plus in the ALDS vs. the New York Yankees. That’s not only the most thrown by a traditional starter in the playoffs this year — it’s the most thrown by any traditional starting pitcher in a game this year.

Dallas Keuchel has been money in his playoff career (3.28 ERA in nine games) but not so hot lifetime vs. the Red Sox (7.46 ERA). However, the bearded one held Boston to one earned over 5 ²⁄₃ innings in last year’s ALDS vs. the Red Sox.

The lineups: