ALDS Game 3 Thread/Preview. October 10, 2021, 7:07 CDT. Astros @ White Sox

In the last week of the regular season the Astros didn’t look like they could hit a beach ball, much less compile 15 runs and 20 hits against a White Sox pitching staff headlined by Lance Lynn nad Lucas Giolito.

But it’s playoffs, and the Astros are hoping they can keep it turned on against Dylan Cease. (13-7, 3.91 ERA). Cease has faced the Astros twice before this season, allowing nine runs in nine innings.

The Astros counter with rookie Luis Garcia, (11-8, 3.30 ERA) He faced the Sox once this year, going seven innings at home, allowing only one run. However, Garcia has been a better pitcher at home than on the road, (2.39 ERA compared to 4.24), and , of course, this is a road game for the Astros.

On the other hand, Garcia pitches much better against right-handers than left-handers, and he will face a right-handed heavy lineup today. During the season Garcia’s wOBA against right-handers away was only .276, just slightly more than his overall home wOBA of .264.

There’s some concern about Garcia’s stamina, as his 155 innings pitched this year is a career high for the 24-year old. Since July 24th Garcia has seen a slight drop-off in performance with a 3.94 ERA.

It’s an elimination game for the White Sox, and this will be the first time the Astros have faced a road crowd in the playoffs since the cheating scandal. This might be the most hostile crowd the Astros will have ever faced.

Here are the lineups.

Media Access

Game 3:

When: Sunday, October 10th @ 7:07 pm CDT

Listen: Astros - KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, KTRH 740 AM/99.1 FM HD-2, ESPN Radio, TUDN 93.3/KLAT 1010 / White Sox - WMVP 1000 AM, ESPN Radio, WRTO 1200

Watch: FS1