ALCS Game 3 Thread. October 13, 2020, 7:40 CDT. Rays @ Astros

Two tough losses will not deter the spirits of the Astros, nor their fans. The luck turns. Tonight. Now. Time to string together some hits instead of smashing into double plays.

One important factor that will decide this game is, can Jose Urquidy hold the Rays lineup as well as Framber Valdez and Lance McCullers did the last two nights. In a shortened season within the shortened season, Urquidy had a 2.73 ERA in almost 30 innings pitched. Good results in a small sample, but a FIP of 4.73 and an extreme flyball profile calls the reliability of this ERA into question. In Game Three of the ALDS he allowed four runs in 4.1 innings, surrendering four solo homers.

Hopefully the ball isn’t jumping out of Petco park like it was at Chavez Ravine.

Facing the Astros tonight is Austin’s own, lefty Ryan Yarbrough. He has the second lowest ERA among Rays starters this year at 3.56, and is the staff leader in bWAR at 1.2. He saw five innings of action against the Yankees on October 8th, pitching five innings allowing two runs.

Manager Dusty Baker is making an interesting lineup move tonight, giving catcher Martin Maldonado a rest in favor of Dustin Garneau. Aldemys Diaz gets the start in place of Josh Reddick.

Here’s the lineup.

Media Access

Listen: Astros - KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, ESPN Radio, La Ranchera 101.7 FM/850 AM Rays - WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM, ESPN Radio, WGES 680

Watch: TBS, TBS-INT

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